The Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7 and Princeton R-5 boards of education held meetings this week, setting tax levies and preparing for the start of the 2021-22 school year.
Pleasant View R-6
The Pleasant View R-6 Board voted to increase it’s tax levy and heard how COVID-19 funds will be spent during its meeting on Tuesday.
According to information provided by the district, the board set the tax rate at $4.96644 on the $100 assessed valuation. That rate is an increase from $4.9508 last year.
Board members approved the American Rescue Plan/Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, which details how the school will spend the COVID funds it is slated to receive this year. With approximately $107,000 in funds coming, the district plans to purchase a three-year contract with iReady, hire counselors/mentors and spend the rest on staffing. Board members also voted to make all R-6 employees essential during the school year and continue the 80 hours of COVID leave for employees.
Several items were given approval, including the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Special Education Compliance Plan, the 2020-21 Annual Secretary of the Board Report, 2021-22 school bus routes and the Free and Reduced Lunch guidelines. Tuition for Mrs. Lake’s preschool was set at $375 per month, for a total of $3,375 for the nine-month school year. Preschool classes run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Classes in the district begin on Wednesday, Aug. 25, with an in-person open house scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23. All families are encouraged to attend to drop off school supplies and meet teachers. A meal, provided by the board, will be served.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14.
Laredo R-7
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education took care of multiple items that needed approval prior to the start of classes during its meeting on Monday, which also included the setting of the 2021 tax levy.
According to information provided by the district, the board set the levy at $5.8500 on the $100 assessed valuation.
Board members also gave approval to the bus routes and agreed to continue allowing students within one mile of the school to be picked up by the bus. Also approved was the Late Start Schedule, as well as the Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility criteria and the 2020-21 Annual Secretary of the Board Report. The Special Education Compliance Plan was also approved as was the iReady Summer Incentive field trip, set for Aug. 31.
Board members discussed bus inspections and summer maintenance projects and held a budget review.
Classes begin on Tuesday, Aug. 24 with an early out, and the open house is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23.
Board members held a closed session to discuss personnel, with no announcement made.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 13.
Princeton R-5
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education also set its tax levy, voluntarily rolling back the debt service levy as promised to patrons.
According to information provided by the district, the board set the levy at $5.1757 on the $100 assessed valuation, which includes the incidental rate of $4.0425, the capital projects rate of .1800 and the debt service rate of .9532. Superintendent Jerry Girdner said the school board voluntarily rolled back the debt service levy to maintain its promise to voters of a “no tax increase” bond issue that was passed in April 2017. The state had computed the debt service levy at $1.7752, but it was reduced to the .9532.
In other business, the board discussed the COVID-19 School Re-Entry Plan, which can be found on the school website, and approved a request from the senior class for an open lunch during the 2021-22 school year. The seniors will be allowed to have the open lunch hour beginning on the first day of class, which is Tuesday, Aug. 24.
The board also approved a banking resolution adding the superintendent’s secretary, Carrie Goodin, to have signing authority.
Following a closed session, the board announced that Jim Miller has been approved as a school bus driver and Katie Radewald was hired as a preschool paraprofessional.
The September meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
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