SHERBURN– The Martin County West School Board held their December meeting on Monday evening. At the beginning of the session, Dan Schroeder provided the fiscal report for MCW. Quite a few of the budget funds were negative and expenses were also negative. The

year ended with 22 more students than budgeted for.

Schroeder then reported the Truth in Taxation information. He reminded all that the state formulas are set and are highly regulated. They also have not kept pace with inflation since the early 2000s. The amount per student is $7000+ and the per pupil allowance is $6000+ with a difference of 18 percent plus. In 2018, the law affecting farmers was approved, called AG 2 Schools bond credit. This tax is about 70 percent. Revenue comes from income tax, sales tax, and other tax revenues. Schroeder also mentioned that the Covid payments are nearly over. The formulas are based on population and the 2020 census showed a 4,299 adult population. Children under 5 showed 168 but in reality it is lower. The State set total tax levy which is payable in 2023 at almost two million. It was 2 million last year. Inflation has made it difficult for residents to justify payment and to pay. The County assesses the property value. The indebitedness from bonds was done in 2021 for $6 million+ and will be paid by 2035. That gives a large number in that fund. Food service will not be reimbursed as before. The local taxes are about 17 percent of the general fund with the large part from state aid almost 70 percent, and federal aid at 10 percent. The dollars spent are mostly for general fund at 69 percent which is instructional as it should be. The debt is also quite a bit of the expenses. A public comment stated the levy was not high enough. A comment that if the school district would want to do the things the facilities study commented on they would not have enough money and they would need a bond. They do not have enough money now to demolish the Welcome school building. The Ag 2 school funds would be helpful in our county. The school board later in the meeting approved the total proposed school tax levy of $1,910,159.76. This is to be paid in 2023.

The meeting was called to order and the board approved the tax levy, updated policies,

updates to student handbook and changes to the course catalog for the senior high school. There was discussion about the course changes or more economics, and English and combining some physical education and adding a math teacher to help implement a Geometry and building construction combined class.

In other news:

— The new scoreboard has arrived and they hope to have it installed soon.

– Trimont School’s secretary, Alicia Swanson, has changed jobs to be the Central Office Assistant.

— Trimont and Sherburn Elementary will be working on perserverance and they will also have Core Math (Trimont) and a Core Reading sessions (Sherburn) in January.

— Community Education and Recreation offerings for January were reviewed. They will be in the newsletter with the Cheer Squad rescheduled for the end of January due to weather concerns in December. CPR and AED has been rescheduled for February when the needed equipment for the Annies, etc., is supposed to be available. The Karson Janssen Foundation will be helping with expenses.

— Seven teams from Robotics competed and they will resume in January.

— A pool party from 4-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 is scheduled, with a pizza supper for $10.

— There will be a basketball fundamentals session each Saturday from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4.

– The board scheduled an organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Jan.10.

The board, Superintendent, and principals thanked Wendi Russenberger for her 12 years as a MCW School Board member. A new board member will be installed in January.

The next regular meeting of the MCW School Board is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 16.