BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board held their Truth in Taxation public hearing as the first item on their agenda at their regular monthly meeting held Monday night.

After a report on the budget and levy from the school district’s fiscal services coordinator, Alan Wilhelmi, the board voted on the tax levy to be levied in 2021 and collected in 2022.

The total levy for the district was set at $3,134,692. Wilhelmi reported that was an increase of $126,688 from the year before, which is a 4.1 percent hike in the property tax levy.

The board also heard their annual audit report from auditor Laura Buechner of CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) Auditors.

Buechner reported a clean audit for the district for the previous year’s financials.

In other business at the meeting, the BEA Board:

— Heard a report from State representative Bjorn Olson.

Olson reported on actions taken at the State Legislature which would affect school districts across the state, including an increase in state aid to schools.

— Voted to raise guest teacher pay (formerly called substitute teachers).

The current rate of $125 per day would remain in effect for one to four days of teaching, while the rate for five to 14 days would increase to $175 and for 15-plus days it would be $200 per day.

— Approved the purchase of a new bus for the school district.

The used 77-passenger 2020 Blue Bird Vision school bus has low mileage and comes at a price of $66,000. The district will be using Esser Funds for the purchase.

— Approved a roofing bid for the Performing Arts Center and stage area in the high school. It is part of a multi-year roof replacement project started in 2016. There is just one more portion of the high school roof left to do after this.

— Heard an update from Brenda Smith concerning the basketball court project at the elementary school.

She reported that the committee has raised $41,000 to cover the cost of the resurfacing of the courts, but are continuing to fundraise to cover the cost of lights for the courts.

— Approved the winter sports coaches list, as well as the certified staff seniority list and the non-certified staff seniority list.

— Approved personnel changes including the hiring of Kirby Olson as a paraprofessional and Theresa Eckles as an elementary teacher, leaves of absence for Kali Erichsrud, Sara Rothmeier and TJ Schmidtke, resignations from Nicole Hasbargen (paraprofessional), Jennifer Berkner (technology coordinator) and Jeremy Frank (high school custodian).