Red Wing School Board briefs

Preliminary 2013 levy lower than 2012

Even if the district’s operating referendum renewal and a facilities bond pass popular vote Nov. 6, the 2013 tax levy would still be lower than the current levy, district Finance Director Brad Johnson told the School Board Monday.

Because the Minnesota Department of Education continues to change district levy calculations until the last moment, Johnson gave the board an update Monday.

According to the MDE’s latest calculations, the district’s 2013 base levy will be about $8.36 million. The actual 2012 levy was about $9.72 million. Johnson said the decrease is due to some of the district’s debt service expiring.

If the operating referendum renewal question and the second question pertaining to a facilities bond pass, the levy would be at about $9.47 million, which is 3.1 percent lower than this year’s levy.

Should the third referendum question — asking for a bond to update athletic facilities — pass, the levy would be just more than $9.8 million, a .34 percent increase over the current levy.

Drumline approved for 2012-13 school year

The board approved 6-0 a motion establishing a winter drum line beginning this school year. Band Director Dan Marrs proposed the new drum line. It will replace the marching band, which has been dormant the last couple years due to low participation.

The drum line will utilize the former marching band budget, which sat at about $12,700. The drum line budget will be less, totaling $8,200. Fees of $160 per student should cover about $3,200 of that.

About 20 students will be able to participate in the drum line.

Canvassing meeting set

The board set a special meeting to canvass 2012 general election results at 7 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 13 in the community education conference room at Red Wing High School.

Personnel changes

New hires: Kevin O’Brien, school security at RWHS, effective Sept. 28; Sheena Tisland, language arts teacher at RWHS, effective Sept. 24; Brianna Dressen, long-term first-grade substitute at Sunnyside, effective Oct. 24-Feb. 19.

Medical leave: Gregg Ulvenes, custodian at Sunnyside, effective Oct. 22-Nov. 19; Julie Schreifels, special education teacher at RWHS, effective Sept. 24-Oct. 30.

Retirement: Pete Eberlein, special education teacher at Twin Bluff, effective Jan. 18.

Meeting watch

Monday’s meeting lasted about two hours. All board members were present. Board member Emily Baldwin left about halfway through the meeting.

— Compiled by Sarah Gorvin, staff writer

Tags: red wing, school board, government