School Board confronts tax-levy increase, cheerleading future

The Sheboygan Falls School Board confronted two major issues during its regular monthly, annual public and budget meetings Monday, July 27, in the Sheboygan Falls High School library.

The board reviewed the preliminary 2009-10 budget figures and the district’s projected 8.56-percent taxlevy increase.

Board members also heard an impassioned plea from high school cheerleading coach Sue Witt and team members to keep the program in place for the upcoming 2009-10 school year.

During her annual preliminary budget report, District Director of Business Services Mary Blaha announced an 8.56-percent tax-levy increase to support the district’s 2009-10 school budget of $17,596,802.

The projected $7,731,811 total tax levy exceeds the 2008-09 total tax levy of $7,122,105 by $604,706.

Blaha said the tax-levy increase is due mainly to an expected reduction in the amount of state equalized aid the district will receive for the 2009-10 school year, as well as a stagnant level of equalized valuation.

The district is projected to receive $10,204,049 in state equalized aid for the 2009-10 school year, which represents a reduction of $72,538 when compared to the $10,276,587 in state aid the district received in 2008-09.

The numbers reflect a .71-percent drop in state aid. The level of state aid funding has not dropped since 2005, when districts received 2.17-percent less funding than in 2004.

In 2008-09, the district received a state-aid payment representing an increase of 4.5 percent over 2007- 08.

“In 1996, the state promised to fund public education at two-thirds (66.7 percent) of the cost for each district,” Blaha said. “Right now that is not happening.

“This year state equalized aid is expected to fund 58 percent of the district’s general fund costs,” she said.B

laha projected the district’s mill rate to be $8.84 per thousand in 2009-10, which is a 69-cent increase over the 2008-09 mill rate of $8.15.

The mill rate is calculated by dividing the district’s total tax levy ($7,731,811) by the equalized valuation ($874,215,140) and multiplying by $1,000.

“While the mill rate is projected to increase this year, it is 74 cents less than 10 years ago and 26 cents less than five years ago,” she said. “Sheboygan Falls has consistently had a mill rate lower than the state average for the past 25 years.”

She stressed the actual amount of state aid the district receives for the 2009-10 school year will not be finalized until October.

“The numbers we have right now are projections,” Blaha said. “The amount of state aid we actually receive could be more or less than the estimated figure.

“The amount of state aid and our district’s revenue limit is based on the student-enrollment figure that we submit to the state on the third Friday in September,” she said.

“Last year our elementary-school enrollment increased by 66 students, due to the start of 4-year-old kindergarten, but middle and high school enrollment dropped. Our enrollment has increased 6 percent since the 2003-04 school year and it’s currently at an all-time high for the past 26 years.”

Board Member Tom Bigler lamented the difficult budget situation.

“We’ve had to make some very tough cuts to our budget,” he said. “I really hate to see any kind of cuts, especially in the classroom.

“On the other hand, I also don’t like seeing the tax rate go up like it is,” he said.

During the annual meeting, the board and the community members in attendance approved the tax levy, the sale of capital items the 2008-09 treasurer’s report and a 0-percent increase in School Board members’ salaries for the 2009-10 school year.

Ed Michael, who chaired the public meeting, submitted a motion to limit administrative contracts to two years in length.

“By law, school districts are not permitted to offer contracts to administrators for more than two years,” Michael said. “We are laying off teachers and there are many people out there without jobs.

“If those people are taking hits in this economy, I believe administrators should be as well,” he said.

Bigler informed Michael that all current administrators in the district have two-year contracts.

He also noted that the board recently voted to establish a wage freeze for administrative and support staff for the 2009-10 school year.

After a brief discussion, Michael withdrew his motion.

The board also heard from SFHS cheerleading coach Sue Witt and cheerleading team member Stephanie Peterson, regarding the possible elimination of the high-school cheerleading program.

Witt stressed the level of commitment, pride and spirit reflected by team members at various sporting and community events.

“The members of our cheerleading team care about and fully support our sports teams and the community,” Witt said. “We have also been willing to pay for our own travel expenses in the past.

“At this year’s state wrestling tournament, we were the only team out of 28 to pay our own way to cheer on our wrestlers,” she said. “It would be very sad to see something that has been apart of Sheboygan Falls High School, since the start of its sports programs go away. That tradition should carry on.”

In closing, Witt said team members would be willing to raise money on their own to pay for travel and uniform expenses. Nine cheerleaders have committed to take part in the program this fall.

Peterson spoke to the board on behalf of her fellow cheerleading team members.

“Being in cheerleading has helped me become a more positive person and a better person,” she said. “It has given me something to believe in and support with all my energy.

“The members of our team believe in the importance of cheerleading so much that we have circulated a petition in support of the program,” he said.

She then submitted a petition signed by cheerleading supporters, urging the School Board to retain the program.

During the regular board meeting, Middle School Principal Meloney Markofski reported SFMS has gained 21 students over the summer.

“I am a bit concerned about this, because that is a large number of students,” she said. “I don’t want to see class sizes hit 30 students, that is too big.

“If that happens, we would have to do some adjusting. We will see what happens, as we get closer to the start of the school year.

The board approved the receipt of a $1,000 gift to the district from Pro Heat.

It also approved 40-percent teaching contracts for new middle school art teacher Stephanie Brusky and high school English teacher Addie Degenhardt.

In addition, the board granted the resignation of early childhood special education teacher Allison Hocking.

The board approved the board/administrative calendar and discussed plans for the discussion and formation of board goals for the 2009-10 school year.

The board then adjourned to executive session to conduct a staff grievance hearing, regarding a reduction in contract prior to May 31, a grievance of the advisors/coaches whose co-curricular positions were reduced or eliminated after May 31 and to discuss the layoff and recall of employees for the 20099-10 school year.

The next monthly Sheboygan Falls School Board meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the Sheboygan Falls High School library.