Do you have a question about Litchfield School District’s levy proposal? This is your chance to ask school administrators what you need to know before you head to the polls to vote.
As has been reported in the Independent Review, the school district will ask voters in the November election to revoke the school district’s existing levy of $300 per pupil and replace it with a new levy of $600 per pupil for 10 years.
Send your questions to staff writer Kristin Holtz, reporter@independentreview.net [1], and the Independent Review will hunt down the answers. Each week, a question will be answered in the paper and posted online.
Please include your name and hometown in the e-mail.
Oct. 2 Question and Answer
Q: If voters approve the operating levy referendum, how much money will the levy raise for the district and how will those dollars be used?
A: From Litchfield Superintendent Bill Wold — If the operating levy referendum is successful, the district will receive an increase of approximately $636,000 annually for the next 10 years. This amount is based on the student enrollment times the dollar per student increase. The district will use the additional funds to maintain present class size and programs and improve its financial stability. If the referendum is not successful the district will make $300,000 in reductions that will increase class size and reduce programs.
Oct. 9 Question and Answer
Q: In 2002, district voters authorized a $300-per-pupil operating levy for 10 years, set to expire following the 2012-13 school year. Why then, if the levy has four years left, is the district asking voters to approve a new levy?
A: When a district determines an amount for an operating levy referendum, it uses information available at that point in time. In 2002, the Board of Education determined that, based on the conditions at that time, the district would need a $300 per student operating levy. At that time, the state average operating levy was $373 per student — it is now $760 per student. Since that time, however, districts received state funding at less than the inflation rate and the costs of state and federal mandates increased dramatically. To maintain class size and programs, the district used its fund balance. Because the fund balance is depleted, the district determined the need to ask voters for a $300 per student increase.
Oct. 16 Question and Answer
Q: Following the 2002 levy, the board approved a 4 percent salary increase for the district administration team. How are teacher, staff and administration raises determined? Will voters see similar personnel raises if this levy is passed?
A: From Superintendent Bill Wold: All contracts in the district are negotiated separately between the various employee groups and the Board of Education. There are separate employee groups to include teachers, teacher assistants, secretaries, food service, custodians and principals. There also are individuals, non-aligned, who negotiate with the board separately. The superintendent, a non-aligned and non-tenured employee, negotiates as a single individual with the board.
Negotiated settlements are typically based on other area districts’ settlements. The negotiated settlements will vary over the years given state funding and fund balance considerations.
Oct. 23 Question and Answer
Q: Can we see a detailed school district budget? How much is spent on 1) special education 2) busing for sports activities 3) teacher compensation 4) school lunches 5) books 6) building needs 7) indirect personnel costs 8) state mandates 9) pool maintenance 10) etc ... ?
A: From Superintendent Bill Wold: Some of the general fund expenditures are coded differently by districts. For example, districts typically interchange school level administration and pupil support services.
There also are certain variables between districts. For example, the geographic size of the district will dictate much of the transportation expenditures and many times the culture of the community will determine what programs and activities the district provides.