By Lori EhdeAs the Nov. 8 election day approaches for Luverne’s proposed operating referendum, efforts to educate voters are picking up speed.Information about the proposed referendum was mailed to all property owners Oct. 12 and last week volunteers followed up with phone calls.Luverne teacher Patsy Amborn was one of 30-some people who each called anywhere from 30 to 60 homes.Berkley Information Services offered the use of its phones for the effort.Amborn and others who spoke with prospective voters last week said she’s unsure where the district stands on the referendum.Callers identified themselves and asked if residents were aware of the proposed operating referendum and if they plan to vote in the coming special election."Responses varied from very positive and aware to ‘I’m not aware’ and ‘No, I’m not interested,’" Amborn said.School Board member Vicki Baartman was also among the volunteer callers last week. She said she’s not sure if the phone campaign will have a positive effect on the voting outcome, but she said it was still worth the effort."I’m just glad we at least had the opportunity to get them the information," she said.The issue about all day every kindergarten is apparently an issue with some residents. Some are angry that the program was cut last year, and they say they won’t support the referendum if there are no plans to reinstate it. Others have said they won’t support the referendum if the money will be used only to reinstate all day every day kindergarten.Luverne School Board members addressed the referendum campaign during their Thursday, Oct. 13, meeting.Like 81 other school districts in Minnesota, Luverne is proposing a referendum just to keep its head above water, not to reinstate previously cut programs.In Luverne, that will require passage of the proposed $700 per pupil operating referendum that district residents will vote on Nov. 8. If approved, it will bring $900,000 per year to the district, an amount administration and board has identified as sufficient to make ends meet."There are still some people with the mistaken idea that we’re getting 4 percent increase in new money from the state," said board chair Becky Walgrave."I still get comments that we have all this new money coming in, and my response is we’re not getting 4 percent; we’re getting 1.7 percent - $139,000. We’ll be lucky if that covers our added fuel costs for this year."Superintendent Gary Fisher told School Board members he’s visiting coffee groups, Senior Dining crowds and other small groups in order to talk one-on-one with district residents.Board member Bill Stegemann said, "I hope folks take time to read the information. The outcome of this election will have a profound effect on the future of the district.In other business Thursday, the board:oDiscussed the possibility of setting the district thermostats 4 degrees cooler to conserve heat. Last year the district spent $122,325 on heating fuel, and those costs are expected to rise more than 30 percent this winter.oHeard a report from student members of the Annual and Echo staffs and their advisor Amy Sahly. The group was on the agenda as a showcase item.oApproved long-term medical leave for Judy Thies, paraprofessional, beginning Nov. 1 for roughly five weeks.oHired Chris Medill as boys head hockey coach.oAccepted the resignation of Greg Hurst, custodian, effective Sept. 30.oSchool Board meetings in November will be Nov. 10 and Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. both dates.