Board moves foward with levy decrease
By DREW STAMBAUGH
Enterprise News Editor
Swanton School Board members took another step in lowering the district's income tax at their meeting last week.
The board approved a resolution sending the decreased, .75 percent levy to the State Tax Commissioner. The levy currently collects at 1.25 percent.
"I think the intent over the last several months is that this is the way we want to go," said school board president Dennis Heban.
The board approved the resolution 4-0, with Jeff Michael absent.
The school board must still approve putting the levy on the November ballot.
The permanent improvement levy, which is also expiring, was also discussed. But no decision was made because the full board was not present.
If the school board decides to let the permanent improvement levy expire and instead get the money from inside millage, they would have to get the process started soon. District treasurer Cheryl Swisher would like to know by July how the board plans on moving forward.
If the change is to inside millage, the request would have to be sent to Fulton County Auditor Nancy Yackee. She would then meet with the Budget Commission before sending the request to the state.
The auditor's office would then move the millage, effective January 2009, according to Swisher.
It would also require a public meeting, so residents can be given information on the change.
"It's a pretty simple process once you decide, which way you want to go," Swisher said to the board.
If the levy is allowed to expire and the millage moved inside, that would leave 1 mill for permanent improvements, a decrease in funds of over $100,000, according to Swisher. Taxes for area residents would also go down, at least initially.
The district would still collect around $200,000 for permanent improvement items. The district currently spends between $150,000 and $200,000 per year on items needed to maintain the buildings, including required textbooks.
If the board decides to put the levy on the November ballot, that would also need to be known by the July meeting.
Other business
* The new high school handbook approved the board includes a ban on a popular item of clothing for young people. Hooded sweatshirts, or hoodies, have been banned during school hours at the high school, as well as the middle school.
Paulette Baz, superintendent for the '08-09 school year and high school principal for '07-08 stated the students have used the hoodies to conceal MP3 players and stolen items from the cafeteria.
The handbook also states the electronic devices, including cell phones, cannot be displayed during school. They can be kept in a locker just not out in the open.
* The policy on student drug testing will now include more than random testing. If an administrator has "reasonable suspicion" a student may also be tested.
That test will be paid for by the district, not the federal grant that pays for the random tests.
Board member Michael Wiederman felt that "reasonable suspicion" needed to be more specific so the district did not encounter unneeded problems. "We need to put parameters on this," he said.
The change was approved with the condition that a definition of "reasonable suspicion" be included.
* Retiring district employees were honored by the board with a certificate and purple apple.
* The August school board meeting will be held on August 12. It had previously been scheduled for the first day of classes.
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