Roseville Area Schools weighs $6 million annual technology and security levy for November ballot

Roseville Area School District officials on Tuesday, June 10 presented a proposal to ask voters in November to approve a capital projects levy of $6,000,000 per year to fund security systems, cybersecurity and technology needs across the district.

Business Director Sherry Thompson told the school board the district’s existing operating capital and general fund are not sufficient to cover rising technology and security costs. “We are looking for approval from the board to move forward, in hopes of, approving this, at your next meeting on, June 24, authorizing the ballot,” Thompson said.

District presenters said the levy would be used for four broad purposes: safety and security (cameras, secure entrances, card/fob access), cybersecurity and data privacy, student devices and instructional technology, and the underlying infrastructure and support staff that keep systems running.

Why it matters: staff said the district currently spends roughly $2,100,000 per year on technology software and support, about $406,000 specifically on security, and roughly $2,500,000 annually on technology capital. Thompson said the district generates about $1,800,000 in…