NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
A group of about 20 people braved the near-zero windchill Monday evening to attend the NRHEG Truth in Taxation hearing at 6 p.m. before the regular board meeting.
The 2016 payable 2017 levy was approved at the regular meeting which followed for the amount of $1,375,496.29.
The budget is composed of three separate funds: the General Fund (Maintenance includes referendum) = $915,840.17, Community Service = $61,065.37, and Debt Service = $398,590.75.
General fund revenue is based on student enrollment, and pays most of the district’s expenses. Community service fund is based on the adult and pre-school populations.
Debt service fund represents current debt retirement, and is a result of the capital and alternative facilities bonds passed and the recent payment for the secondary remodel project.
Budget Overview – Revenues
15-16 actual 16-17 budget
General 9,574,738 9,449,199
Food Svc 527,265 526,750
Comm Svc 218,063 201,702
Debt Svc 419,878 462,054
Expenditures
15-16 actual 1 6-17 budget
General 9,497,197 9,445,022
Food Svc 530,058 511,640
Comm Svc 195,413 196,606
Debt Svc 450,363 454,638
Revenues and expenses both showed a less than one percent drop from last year.
State aid accounts for 81 percent of General fund revenue, and “people costs” (wages, salaries and benefits) comprise about 72 percent of General fund expenditures.
How will your taxes be spent? 66 percent goes to the General fund, four percent to the Community Service fund, and 28 percent to Debt Service.
The payable 2017 levy will be 3.5 percent over last year’s levy amount.
The NRHEG homestead levy has been compared to that of other area school districts and is currently half (or less) the size of several comparable districts.
Big Island Rendezvous
Secondary principal David Bunn and 6th grade teacher Dewey Ferber reported on the 6th grade trip to the Big Island Rendezvous in Albert Lea. Three students were to report but only one was able to attend.
NRHEG 6th graders normally attend the rendezvous on the first week of October. They formed three groups and each group observed presentations relating to Minnesota history.
Favorites among the students were a Civil War field re-enactment, Native American teachings (Lakota Sioux), candlemaking and silversmithing, weaving, tomahawk throwing, spinners spinning wool into thread, a blacksmith, and an Indian storyteller.
Staff changes
The board approved contracts for coaches which weren’t settled at the last meeting: Sam Lundberg, 9th Grade Boys Basketball; Spencer Hanna, Junior High Boys baskeball; Leon Schoenrock, Junior High Boys Basketball; David Lassahn, Junior High Wrestling; and Sophia Fischer, Junior High Girls Basketball.
Resignations were accepted for: Jodi Possin, Elementary Special Education Paraprofessional; Laurie McNett, Elementary Paraprofessional; and Deborah Swenson, Secondary Cook Assistant.
Retirement of Richard Ellenbush, Secondary Math teacher, was approved with gratitude.
Donations
Donations approved were an anonymous donation of $170 for Industrial Technology Chairs, an anonymous donation for a Radial Arm Saw for the Industrial Technology program, a donation of an 8’ x 10’ Portable Display Unit by Dennis Prescher, $294.53 for Battle of the Books by the NRHEG PTO, and $1,380 for Eagle Bluff also by the NRHEG PTO.