A tax rate of $11.37 per $1,000 of equalized valuation for 2013-14 was approved unanimously by the school board at their meeting on Monday, Oct. 28.

A breakdown of the tax levy by each fund is as follows:

General Fund: $4,071,926, with a tax rate of $7.42 per $1,000 of equalized valuation;

Non-Referendum Debt Fund: $126,053, with a tax rate of $0.22 per $1,000 of equalized valuation;

Debt Service Fund: $1,610,413, with a tax rate of $2.93 per $1,000 of equalized valuation; and

Community Service Fund: $418, 470, with a tax rate of $0.76 per $1,000 of equalized valuation.

The total tax levy for 2013-14 is $6,226,862, with a total tax rate of $11.37 per $1,000 of equalized valuation.

The total tax levy was originally approximated at $6,325,928, a tax rate of $12.06 per $1,000 of equalized valuation, at the Annual Meeting.

Last year, the total tax levy was $6,346,424, with a tax rate of $11.74 per $1,000 of equalized valuation.

Financial audit

Paul Denis of Schenck, Inc. presented the 2012-13 financial audit, which the board approved unanimously.

“There are no major concerns that were brought out by the audit,” said Denis. “Your records are presented fairly. Essentially, not much has changed since last year. There were no difficulties in performing the audit.”

Denis also stated that the district’s Fund Balance is in excellent shape. He also said the district’s depreciation schedule and debt retirement schedule are in line.

Board member Ben Huber asked Denis if the district should be concerned about the rising cost of other post-employment benefits (OPEB). This represents post-employment benefits that an employee will begin to receive at the start of retirement. This does not include pension benefits paid to the retired employee.

Huber noted that this amount has grown by an average of about $500,000 over the last couple years.

Denis agreed that it is a significant number, but explained that it had never been measured prior to 2009. He said there are many ways for districts to address OPEB, and said that the district should not be alarmed by the growing amount.

Musicians visit Angelus

Middle school music teacher Annette Van Straten reported to the board on the middle school band and choir’s recent trip to Angelus. She noted that the students got some good experience playing for a very appreciative audience.

High school happenings

Student Council representative Ana Huber informed the board that “Trucker Pride” signs are still available, and can be purchased for $10.

Donation to district

Longfellow Principal Kris Strauman informed the board that Clintonville resident David R. Schmidt has made a total donation of $750 to various Longfellow Elementary classrooms.

The allocation was $50 to each classroom in grades 4K through grade 1. There are four sections of 4K, five classrooms of 5K, and six classrooms of grade 1.

“As a resident of Clintonville, I have been looking for ways to show my appreciation to individuals making a difference,” wrote Schmidt in a letter to the district. “The teachers of our youngest students are doing this every day. They are the ones who instill the lifelong thirst for learning and discovery. In addition to the daily teaching to accomplish this, they use their own money to pay for the little and not so little extras that make this possible. They also make sure that their neediest students have the supplies needed to learn.

“No thank you is needed as this is a thank you for their dedication to the students and the community,” concluded Schmidt.

PTO update

PTO Vice President Jamie Bork spoke to the board about recent PTO happenings, noting that the group is planning a Holiday Craft Fair in December, as well as a Kringle sale.

She reported that 250 students attended the middle school Halloween Dance.

Bork also said some of the PTO’s money and supplies had gone missing, and two police reports were filed.

In other business, the board:

• Approved amendments to 2013-14 Fund 10 and Fund 27 budgets for expenditures (Fund 10: $15,430,388; Fund 27: $3,255,897) and for revenues (Fund 10: $15,233,791; Fund 27: 3,255,897). These amendments were necessary after an unexpected repair to a boiler at the high school, costing $13,000, as well as a recommendation to purchase a new truck for the building and grounds department and a recommendation to split the cost of another van for the district with Pupil Services. These funds will be taken from the Fund Balance;

• Approved a change in assignment for Lori Poppe from Para II – MS ISS, 29 hours per week to Para I – DELC, 24 hours per week, effective Oct. 21;

• Approved a recommendation that the Class of 2014 have their last day of school on Friday, June 6, 2014, with the Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 13, 2014;

• Approved the second reading of revisions to the first half of the Series 6000 policies;

• Approved the first reading of revisions to the second half of the Series 6000 policies; and

• Approved the first reading of revisions to Policy #4122 – Substitute Teachers. A recommendation to increase pay for substitute teachers to make the district more competitive was brought to the board. Currently, the district pays substitute teachers $84 per day; the recommendation was to increase this amount to $100 per day, while moving the summer school sub rate from $11 per hour to $12 per hour.

The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in the middle school IMC.