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Monticello school board approves preliminary tax levy, adopts policies and accepts community donations
Summary
At its Sept. 23 meeting the Monticello Public School District board approved submitting the preliminary tax levy to the maximum, adopted a package of policy updates including a Title IX revision and SRO policy changes, and accepted a donation of school supplies from Cub Foods. Multiple votes passed unanimously (6-0).
The Monticello Public School District board on Sept. 23 approved submitting its preliminary property tax levy “to the max,” adopted a set of ten policy updates and accepted a community donation of school supplies, all by unanimous voice votes.
The board voted 6-0 to direct staff to submit the preliminary levy at the maximum allowable level after Director of Business Services Tina Burkholder said the district’s total levy is projected to fall compared with the prior year. Burkholder noted adjustments in the voter-approved referendum and state aid calculations and cited an estimated decrease “of about $168,000” in one calculation while an internal spreadsheet showed a roughly $194,000 drop; she recommended levying to the maximum to avoid losing lease-levy revenue. The motion was moved by Melissa Curtis and seconded by Jamie Seben and passed 6-0.
Why it matters: setting the proposed levy affects next year’s revenue the district can spend and how much taxpayers will be asked to pay; the board’s decision submits a proposed levy that will be finalized after state calculations and any further revisions.
Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: Passed, voice vote 6-0 (moved by Melissa Curtis; seconded by Casey Root). - Consent agenda (personnel, bills, credit card expenditures, wire transfers): Passed, voice vote 6-0 (moved by Melissa Curtis; seconded by Casey Root). - Accept donation from Cub Foods (six boxes of school supplies for Pinewood Elementary): Passed, voice vote 6-0. - Submit preliminary property tax levy to the maximum as presented: Passed, voice vote 6-0 (moved by Melissa Curtis; seconded by Jamie Seben). - Adopt second-reading policy package (includes Title IX nondiscrimination/grievance updates, board governance policies, corporal punishment/prone restraint policy and SRO policy 5.07.5 reflecting Minnesota statute 128.05): Passed, voice vote 6-0 (moved by Jeff Hegley; seconded by Jamie Seben).
Board comments and context Chair Ziebarth said the board is continuing to monitor levy figures and thanked staff for the analysis. Superintendent Eric Olson noted the district has applied for grants and is coordinating community donations to support programs the board discussed during the meeting, including early-literacy efforts.
What’s next: The levy filing will be finalized as state aid and other figures are confirmed. The adopted policies will be published in district materials and the district will implement the Title IX procedural changes and updated SRO contractual/training requirements as described by staff.
Sources: Board presentations and motions at the Sept. 23 Monticello Public School District regular meeting. Quotes and attributions are drawn from remarks recorded during the meeting.
