ELY – School officials here approved a motion to ask voters to renew an expiring operating levy, and possibly approve more funding, in a referendum this November. The levy at issue, passed in 2006, currently raises $233.72 per pupil.

Superintendent Abrahamson noted that board members will need to approve the official motion on the levy amount later this fall. “This says that we intend to renew what we currently have.”

Board members will discuss the levy, and the possibility of seeking additional funds at the Aug. 29 study session.

“We need to decide whether we want to have one or two levy questions on the ballot this fall,” Abrahamson said. “There are pros and cons for each. One levy question would be to remain revenue neutral and renew what we currently have. The second question would be to ask for more.”

Board member Rochelle Sjoberg said, “I personally am not looking at increasing the amount of funds. If that is something we are going to do I would like to have a plan as to what it is going to be used for.”

Abrahamson said an additional levy would be “to expand and enhance educational opportunities for students.” That may or may not include adding a seven-period day.

“You have to word things that way in case the bottom falls out on something else and you have to put money toward that,” he said.

“There are other ways to enhance educational opportunities as well,” he said, including adding t0 the curriculum, which can be done without a (levy) increase, but it would make it easier to do that. We could also add another two or three classes, which we may be able to do anyway.”

He stressed to board members, “For the foreseeable future, I think we can make do if we just have the same amount of money that we have.”

The previous levy had an inflation clause and he recommended maintaining that clause in the new renewed levy.

In 2006, the School District’s operating levy referendum question passed by 68 votes, 1,417 to 1,349, according to Abrahamson.

He also suggested other ways for the district to obtain funds for future needs. “Some of our needs will be capital in nature, and we can bond that we pay back from our long-term facilities maintenance plan. That would not necessarily be an increase to the voters,” he said.

Board chair Ray Marsnik noted the $900 per pupil levy referendum that was approved 10 years ago was advertised as being used for educational quality, transportation and fuel, and building the reserve balance. “We will have the opportunity to discuss all this further at our August study session. The big thing here is that we have to remember that this will not be a tax increase, just a renewal. If we do anything over and above, that would mean a tax increase.”

Other business

In other business, the board took the following action:

•Approved the 2016-2018 Master Principals Agreement with the Ely Principal’s Association, calling for K-6 Principal Anne Oelke to be paid a salary of $82,600 in 2016-2017, and $84,212 I 2017-2018, and 6-12 Principal Megan Anderson to be paid $81,040 in 2016-2017 and $82,520 in 2017-2018, and both principals will be allowed four rather than three personal leave days for each school year;

•Directed Abrahamson to schedule presentations from at least two more strategic planning consultants for the Aug. 29 study session;

•Approved paying dues to the Minnesota School Boards Association in the amount of $3,178 and Policy Services Renewal of $650 for 2016-2017;

•Agreed to hire Charles Plantz for the full-time Media Specialist position at a salary of $45,657;

•Agreed to hire Christopher Yarger for the full-time German teacher position at a salary of $42,309;

•Accepted the resignation of Laurel Kaercher from the 6.5/hour per day para-professional position;

•Hired the following assistant coaches for the 2016-2017 school year, Tim Omerza, boys basketball, Megan Wognum, girls basketball, Eric Urbas and Tom Jerome, hockey;

•Approved the following volunteer assistant coaches for the 2016-2017 school year, Todd Hoehnstein and Robert Poderzay, football.