Local option budget increases to $1 million
Managing editor
With a decrease in bond and interest payments and a mill levy holding steady, USD 408 will not increase taxes for the coming school year.
The district will use $1 million of its local option budget, which has a $1.5 million cap. Last year the board approved $900,000 from the budget.
Even with the budget increase, the mill levy is slightly less than the 2008-09 school year — 46.353 last year compared with 46.320 this year.
A perk with the local option budget is the school district will receive an extra 36 cents of every dollar in state aid.
The district also could utilize four mills in capital outlay funds but will not.
One of the reasons for implementing additional budgetary authority is because base state aid per pupil has dipped again for the coming school year from $4,400 per student to $4,218.
Projected enrollment for the coming school year is about 598 students. When other enrollment data is added such as vocational programs and the number of students participating, and at-risk, non-proficient, transportation, and special education, the total is 1,139. Anticipated state aid is calculated by multiplying the total enrollment and base state aid per pupil, which determines the district’s general fund.
Graduating early
Even though there is a policy in place for such requests, none has been granted — at least not in recent memory — until Monday evening.
Marion High School senior Louis Holt submitted a written request to graduate in December, when his graduating requirements are met. Holt wants to join the military and would enter basic training in the spring.
The board agreed it would “open the door” to other requests in the future but saw no reason not to grant it. The board’s policy indicated students could request to graduate early and among the reasons was enlistment in the military.
The request was granted with the condition Holt does enlist.
In other business:
- A school bus will be available during Art in the Park, Sept. 19.
- Gene Lanning was reappointed to Marion Recreation Commission.
- The board entered a 20-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next board meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in the central office.