REGIONAL—The St. Louis County School Board, on Tuesday, approved an operating levy referendum that would generate approximately $5.85 million in new revenue for the district if approved by voters on Nov. 3.
Of the nearly $6 million in revenue, $2.65 million would come from state aid, which includes funding from the Seasonal Recreation Property Tax Base Replacement Aid account. The remaining $3.195 million would come from a local levy that will replace the current Local Optional Revenue, or LOR, which currently raises about $1.34 million annually for the district.. By dropping the LOR, which is funded entirely on the backs of district taxpayers, the school board hopes to mitigate the tax impact of the new referendum.
If the referendum passes as proposed, related taxes on a $200,000 home would run about $252 annually. The owner of a $200,000 home is currently paying $106 a year because of the LOR, so the total net tax increase of the proposed referendum on that same home would be $146 annually, after dropping the LOR.
The board also approved a separate capital project levy, which would net the district $1.5 million to be spent on capital projects like buses and vans and technology services. If passed, the capital projects levy would cost the owners of a $200,000 house $46 in taxes.
The district has struggled in the past to win passage of most operating levies, but the district is facing an unprecedented financial crisis that likely can’t be resolved through cuts alone. Changes in state aid to school districts provide more general state dollars for districts whose voters opt to support operating levies.
Cellphone ban weighed
During the meeting, the board also discussed a potential bell-to-bell cellphone ban for the upcoming school year. Superintendent Brian Masterson said he had spoken with all the principals from St. Louis County and Mt. Iron-Buhl, who recommended the ban. Currently, policies vary, but students are generally allowed to use their phones during passing periods and at lunch.
Masterson said a similar ban was implemented in his previous district and that it helped reduce online bullying and encouraged face-to-face interactions.
“I know at lunch the kids did not like it at first, but after a couple days you could see them talking and engaging,” Masterson said.
The board was generally supportive of the idea but questioned potential edge cases, like emergencies and the required use of phones in PSEO classes, as well as the difficulty of enforcing the ban.
“It’s a tricky one because people don’t just have phones; they have watches. It’s the earbuds, right?” said board member Chris Koivisto. “So, it’s hard to enforce some of that. Yeah, I’m not 100 percent for banning cell phones, but I understand the distraction they are in classes.”
The board only discussed the ban and will decide on it at a future meeting.
In other business, the board discontinued cheerleading at Cherry and North Woods. Cheerleading can still exist through community education as a club, but it will no longer be sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League, and the coach will no longer receive a stipend.
The board also discussed a new hockey co-op agreement with Hibbing with hopes to reduce the $4,800-per-pupil cost.
The board also welcomed its new administrative assistant, Jacquelyn “Jackie” Grand.