Board of Education meeting recap: levy issue added to April ballot

by ​Cole Arndorfer
 

The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, January 18, for their first meeting of 2024.
 
Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle led off the meeting with his report for the month. In his report, Welle recognized the first-year participants of the leadership seminar. Welle and Dr. Allen also talked about various leadership initiatives taking place in both North and South Middle School.
 
In wrapping up the report, Welle noted the construction and financial updates that were given to the board as part of his report.
 
Addressing construction updates, assistant superintendent Dr. Nick Gooch told the board that the projects are still trending ahead of schedule with crews working on painting and various other tasks.
 
Gooch reported that the district has been able to take some of the project’s contingency money and put it to other improvements around the district. So far, the district has been able to use some of the money to provide some additional storage outside of athletics and activities spaces at the high school. They are also looking into some asphalt replacements and improvements at the high school. The district is also awaiting findings from the safety audit to identify safety items that may need improvements within the schools.
 
Under unfinished business, the board unanimously approved ballot language to be placed on the April 2024 ballot requesting a levy increase. The main focus with this tax levy issue, Welle explained, is on improving and providing competitive teacher pay. Welle said that the ballot language will include safeguards that would allow the district to use that money in the general fund in the case that state funding was reduced, but he does not see that happening.
 
In an email to district parents and patrons, Welle addressed the levy issue.
 
“Voters will be asked to raise the operating tax levy rate ceiling by $0.65. The district commits to reducing the debt service levy by $0.40, resulting in an estimated overall tax levy ceiling increase of $0.25. With the passage of this measure, the owner of a home with a market value of $250,000 would see an increase of $119 per year. 

The primary purpose of this ballot measure is for competitive pay, but some general operating expenses of the district including security are also expected to be impacted.”
 
Under new business, the board discussed the timeline for the budget planning process for the 2024-2025 school year. After some discussion on that, the board discussed information about the 2024-2025 district calendar. Some priorities on the calendar, discussed by Gooch, would be to balance out the amount of time that students are in session across all district schools. According to Gooch, this would allow the district to add another professional development and teacher work day to the calendar, while still increasing the in-session hours for the district.
 
Following new business, the board adjourned into executive session. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on February 22 at 6 pm in the Leadership Center.