FAIRMONT– The Fairmont School Board approved the 2021 payable 2022 tax levy during Tuesday evening’s truth in taxation hearing. The approved tax levy is an 8.26 percent increase from last year. This will generate an additional $447,782.

The district’s business manager, Chris Muhvich, went over details of the district’s funds.

Superintendent Andy Traetow pointed out that in four of the last five years, there has been a levy decrease.

“This increase comes after that trend,” said Traetow.

Board member Mike Edman pointed out that at least half of the increase is attributable to the district’s vocational expansion project.

“If you strip that out, with the context that Andy is referencing, it’s remarkable that we’ve had nominal at best levy increases over a six year period. I imagine most districts would love to say that,” Edman said.

In other news, during the regular meeting, the board accepted PIE/Hunt grant dollars. Partners In Education was able to provide $17,000 in funding this year and $7,500 was available through Hunt funds for a total of $24,500.

The money will go toward a number of projects and materials, including flexible seating for students, bilingual reading books, 3D archery set, frisbee golf equipment and field trips.

The board also heard updates from both the elementary and high school principals.

Elementary co-principal, Brian Grensteiner, shared that 89.5 percent of families attended conferences in October.

“For a seven grade level school, kindergarten through sixth grade, that is really impressive,” Grensteiner said.

Grensteiner also spoke about some curriculum changes to address needs in literacy at the elementary school to fill gaps from lost instructional time over the last few years.

“We have a new training and curriculum for our special educators. It’s called SRA, which is science research associates working with the science of reading,” Grensteiner said.

Co-principal Michelle Rosen said reading intervention teachers received training in the fall on a new program called PRESS, Path to Reading Excellence in School Sites. She said it’s a Minnesota-based company that works on a scientific way of learning reading.

“We have seen growth and success already since just implementing it in the middle of October,” Rosen said.

Fairmont High School co-principals Alex Schmidt and Chad Brusky also provided an update. Brusky spoke about some activities they’ve implemented to try to help build culture.

“This time of year it’s dark and it’s very easy to focus on negative things happening around us,” Brusky said.

He said they recently did hallway bingo with staff which involved students. Teachers then put their bingo card into a drawing for a gift certificate to the Marina Lodge.

During the superintendent’s report, Traetow shared that significant progress has been made on the vocational expansion project and that they’re on track for the project timeline, with a summer 2022 finish, thanks to the unseasonably warm weather.

Traetow spoke about the American Rescue Plan-ESSER funds. He said projects they’re considering based on community feedback surveys include new, assessable playground equipment at the elementary school, updated fitness equipment at the high school and the re-emergence of field trips.

Traetow also said that as of Monday, there are just two active Covid-19 cases at the elementary school and three at the high school. These numbers are less than previous reports from the school.

The board accepted the following donations:

— $10,000 from 3M Foundation for STEM Initiatives.

— $100 from Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation for Fairmont High School general support.

The Dec. 28 school board meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting will take place on Jan. 11, 2022.