Posted: 9/25/07
School board sets public hearings for upcoming levy referendum
By Jane Palen
Special to The Argus
A series of public meetings will be held in late October to answer questions from the public about the upcoming levy referendum. The referendum, which would authorize an additional $726 per pupil unit, would replace the referendum passed by the voters in 2002, which expires this year. The referendum before the voters in the November 6 special election will also be for five years.
The district will mail informational brochures to residents of the district the week of October 8 as required by state law. Public meetings will be held on the following dates:
ïTuesday, October 23-Brownsville,
ïThursday, October 25-Caledonia,
ïTuesday, October 30-Eitzen,
ïThursday, November 1-Freeburg.
In a related matter, Superintendent Michael Moriarty reported at the September 17 meeting of the ISD #299 school board that the proposed levy for 2007 payable 2008 will be $1.955 million, a reduction of 7.75 percent from last yearís levy of $2.25 million. He explained that the reason for the decrease is the expiration of the additional voter-approved levy. If voters approve the referendum in November, that amount will be added into the final levy.
Moriarty also noted that the capital loan, which was taken out to help fund the construction of the middle/high school and renovation of the former high school, will be paid off in less than half the maximum time allowed, which is 50 years. The district is required to pay off the loan based on its tax capacity, and the increase in property values in the district means that the loan payments have increased and the loan is being paid off more quickly.
The school board approved the levy.
Board gets deadline for addressing water run-off problem
Andy and Sheri Allen, who own farm land south of the middle/high school campus, told members of the school board the district needs to come up with a solution for handling the water that runs off the school property and onto their land. They gave the board until the next meeting to come up with a solution.
"If itís not resolved within 30 days, we will take action," Andy Allen told the board. "We want to protect our property."
According to Allen, the area where the water runs onto his land has caused washouts that are two to four feet deep and three feet wide in some places.
"There are no washouts on any other place on the farm," he told the board, adding that the district holds no easements for his land, which was formerly owned by his grandfather, Hilary Allen.
"The law is that you have to have an easement to move immense amounts of water," he said. An existing waterway is showing signs of erosion, he said.
The Allens said that they want the district to stop the water from entering their land.
"Itís not our responsibility to take the water from the school property," said Sheri Allen.
Andy Allen added that it is up to the district to make things the way they were before the school was built.
Andy Allen expressed frustration that no one from the school board came to his farm after his initial visit with the board in May.
"I would have liked to have someone come out and say, ëLetís get this solved,í" Allen said.
School board member John Klug responded, "We thought the waterway was what you wanted and were working on it."
When the Allens didnít return to the board in June, board members assumed that the issue had been resolved with the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Both parties agreed that there may have been a miscommunication. Andy Allen said that they are willing to work with the board.
"If the school comes up with a solution, we will forget about the damage done so far and the crop loss," he said.
Board members agreed to look at the site and consult with their engineers.
Personnel matters
In other business, the board approved the hiring of Judy Flaten as elementary guidance counselor and middle school reading teacher. The change increases her contract from 50 percent to 80 percent of full-time. Flaten will be replacing Becky Newgaard as reading teacher. Newgaard has been hired as a long-term substitute in the kindergarten to cover a medical leave by Janelle Klug until the end of January, 2008.
In other personnel issues, the board accepted the resignation of Pamela Fahy as part-time special education assistant, and approved the hiring of Bonnie Schmitz as part-time cook in the middle/high school.
La Crescent High School will be paying Keith Hollatz as a part-time special education teacher for a student that was formerly enrolled in that district. The position will continue as long as the student is enrolled in ISD #299.
PrincipalsÇ reports
The school year is off to a good start, according to all three district principals.
Elementary principal Connie Hesse reported that in required state testing to determine adequate yearly progress, district students met or exceeded state standards in 11 of 14 areas.
"Iíd like to commend the students and teachers," said Hesse.
Hesse also told the board that the Summer Success program had 49 participants and was an excellent "jump start" to the school year for those students who took part. The Home and School Connection in which parents and students attend school together on the first day had a 98 percent participation rate.
High school principal Ron Helmers introduced a new writing/studying guidebook that was given to all students in the middle/high school. It was put together by the staff using staff development funds, he explained. It is a reference guide on proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, research bibliographies, study skills and more. Students keep the book throughout their middle/high school careers, he noted.
Superintendent Moriarty reported that the gym floor in the elementary school has been repaired and refinished at a cost of $80,000. The district will be reimbursed through its insurance company, Continental Western, for the cost. The floor was damaged when a section of the roof came off during a storm and rain poured into the gymnasium.
The energy project has been completed and a final payment of $28,000 to Michaelís Engineering has been approved.
Discussion on handicapped
parking continues
Prior to the meeting, the board viewed an area southwest of the football field which had been suggested as an area for handicapped/senior citizen parking. Several concerns were noted, including the cost to upgrade the walkway to handle cars, lighting the area and making it a year-round parking lot. The area would also have to be monitored by school personnel. The board agreed to obtain some preliminary costs for upgrading the area.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com