Glenwood City Board of Education approves $2.6 levy at annual meeting held August 19
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By Amber Hayden
GLENWOOD CITY – The Glenwood City Board of Education met on Monday evening, August 19, to discuss the proposed budget for the 2019-20 school year.
The proposed budget for the upcoming school year will be $8,949,534 which is a $230,971 decrease from the 2018-19 school budget.
During the budget hearing superintendent Tim Johnson asked the board to accept an amendment to the proposed levy and add $100,000 to the already $300,000 for community education.
The community education is part of fund 80, and the money in that fund must be used in a manner that will benefit the community.
Johnson explained that there is an idea of a community weight room or a community garden that has been brought to the table in recent board meetings.
“If we did a garden there would be less expense on seeds due to plants being brought in by members of the community,” Johnson stated.
An increase in community education would bring the 2019-20 proposed levy to $2,621,223 which is a $78,022 increase over last year and would make the mill rate 9.86 which would be a 10-cent increase on property value per $1,000.
The equalized value increased in 2018 as there was a $9,353,293 difference since 2017, the equalized value now sits at $260,526,237.
“It is a good year to have the increase as we were going to levy less this year,” Johnson explained.
During the annual meeting the board members voted unanimously to approve the proposed budget with the amendment.
The Glenwood City School District will finalize their budget on or before October 15.
Elementary Goals
Principal Betsy Haltinner reaffirmed last year’s goals stating that she was only able to make it to eight classrooms per week to facilitate evidence based on conversations with teachers about instructional practices and advancing student learning.
Her goal for the 2019-20 school year is to make it to 10 classrooms per week as well as re-engaging the staff in a Professional Learning Community which allow them to analyze student performance and shift instruction to benefit the students.
As for Title 1, Haltinner hopes to find ways to support guided reading instruction via the Assess-Decide-Guide process which will strengthen the Tier 11 literacy development.
Middle/High School Goals
Two of the goals that middle/high school principal Patrick Gretzlock presented to the board members and those in attendance was to develop a student leadership council and to find ways to provide service to the community in a visible way.
The student leadership council will consist of a representative from each of the co-curricular activities that will help to enhance the culture at the school, as for the community activities Gretzlock wants to find ways to give back to Glenwood City as the community has been supportive of the school.
As for athletics at the high school level, Gretzlock said they will look at the possibility of a baseball field renovation and will be holding athletes to a higher standard regarding sportsmanship and leadership.
Special Education Goals
The Special Education department will be working toward redefining their role in the general education classroom, according to Nicole Brite, as well as working toward becoming a more trauma sensitive school.
Brite also mentioned they have started to accept three-year-olds into the Tiny Topper program with ten registered for the fall.
In Other Business
During the meeting, it was also approved for the board officers to be paid $2,300 while members are paid $2,000.
Also, Bob Swanepoel asked superintendent Johnson if at any point before the budget was finalized if an amendment could be made to set a limit of $50,000 regarding hiring an attorney for the district.
“Just so it doesn’t get out of hand,” Swanepoel commented.
Johnson also mentioned that $6,000 had been spent out of fund 80, food services, to purchase three new milk coolers.
Board member Lisa Logghe commented she had several people come to her voicing concern about the food quality and the prices, but Johnson assured her that they would be considering the concerns in the future.
The date was also set for the 2020-21 annual meeting which will take place on August 17.