43
McDonald school board to place levy on May ballot
By Mary Smith
McDONALD
The board of education approved placing a 10.75 mill, five-year emergency levy on the May 3 ballot to generate $580,000 annually.
The measure, which the board approved Friday night, must be accepted by the state Finance and Planning Commission, which oversees district spending, at its Thursday meeting before it can be considered officially passed.
The district is still in state fiscal emergency, despite cuts totaling more than $875,000 annually made under the district’s recovery plan.
An influx of federal stimulus funds and a reduction in unemployment payments for employees who have found other jobs have helped reduce costs, school officials said.
District Treasurer Brian Stidham stressed that the size of the levy is necessary because the district receives only $54,000 per mill based on the village’s tax valuation, far less than most other districts.
The board also approved an agreement with teachers allowing the payment of $30 an hour for the After School Math Intervention Program. A maximum of eight positions will be offered to bargaining-unit members who are qualified to teach elementary math in grades three to six.
A maximum of 36 sessions must be taught. The sessions will be for one full hour.
Dave Vecchione, a Roosevelt Elementary School teacher, has implemented the program using Title I American Recovery and Reimbursement Act funds totaling $46,000, and he also plans to use the money to buy computer software and other technology equipment.