School levy to decrease

Timely taxpayer payments and debt refinancing resulted in a decrease of the Luverne School District 2017 preliminary levy of 2.77 percent.
Marlene Mann, the district’s business manager, told board members at their meeting Thursday, Sept. 22, that local on-time tax payments helped reduce this year’s property tax payments to the district by $70,770.
The state’s formula for property taxes is calculated at 105 percent, or 5 percent above the district’s voter-approved bond, Mann said.
The added percentage above 100 percent compensates for the non-payment of taxes from property owners within the school district. If all tax payments are made within a school district, the percent over 100 is given back to local taxpayers in a reduced levy the following year.
This is the third year District 2184 certified its preliminary levy at an amount lower than the previous year. Last year the school’s levy decreased by 1.80 percent and in 2014 it decreased 1.14 percent.
The District refinanced its bond debt last year with an estimated savings of more than $112,000 over a three-year period.
At a proposed decrease of 2.77 percent for 2017, the district will collect a little more than $2.480 million from taxpayers.
More information about the district’s finances will be presented during its Truth In Taxation hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, before the final levy is certified.
 
Yearly superintendent evaluation completed
School Board Chairwoman Katie Baustian shared results of Superintendent Craig Oftedahl’s yearly evaluation, which was conducted Aug. 25.
The board had set four goals with Oftedahl, who began as head of the district on July 1, 2015.
Two personal development goals — understanding technology and support of standard-based grading — were also set.
Each goal received individual ratings ranging from 1 to 4 with 1 being unsatisfactory, 2 satisfactory, 3 accomplished and 4 distinguished.
All ratings were a 3 or 4.
Distinguished ratings were given for effective communication and cultivating partnerships.
Accomplished ratings were given for overall district leadership, maintaining of school finances, understanding technology, and supporting and communicating the standards-based grading implementation.
The board adopted Minnesota School Board Association’s less subjective performance evaluation model.
“It’s a working document at all times,” Baustian said after the meeting. “The board and superintendent set these together.”
Goals expand or repeat depending on district need and are discussed every six months, she said.
 
In other business, board members:
•increased the daily meal allowance to Minnesota High School League tournament events from $19.50 to $27.
“Twenty-seven dollars was a compromise from where we’re at and the high end,” said Oftedahl.
Luverne had the lowest meal allowance in the area. Worthington allows the highest at $35 per day.
•approved the hiring of Andrea Jacobsma and Jennifer Gengler as paraprofessionals effective Aug. 29.
•hired Mark Lundgren and Derek Elbers as middle school football coaches.
•heard information about the high school choir’s proposed trip to New York from June 12-17, 2017.