Lake Holcombe School Board; Mill rate drops to lowest it’s been in four years

By Ginna Young

As with every annual meeting, the Lake Holcombe School District finances were pored over Oct. 25, with good news in terms of the mill rate. This year, the mill rate is set at $8.11, per $1,000 of property.

“This will be the lowest mill rate for the Lake Holcombe School District in the last four years,” said district administrator Kurt Lindau.

Also set, is the tax levy, at $3,974,913. Lindau says there was no increase in per pupil aid from the state or to the low revenue ceiling. However, the district did receive a slight increase in transportation aid.

For 2020-21, Fund 10 (General Fund) ended with a surplus of $61,000, as a result of receiving more than budgeted state categorical aids and insurance returns on premiums, as well as other savings.

“Our fund balance is of significant or a sufficient amount, so that we do not have to short-term borrow for cash flow purposes,” said board treasurer Anneleise Willmarth.

Willmarth also reported that the school will continue to utilize the Capital Improvements Fund (Fund 46), which was used to pay for the roof and boiler projects.

As for board member salaries, Lindau did research on how other districts pay the elected members for their service. After discussing the matter, those present agreed that paying board members per diem (per meeting attended) is preferred to an annual stipend.

That will take effect in April, after the spring election and the new terms begin.

It was also agreed to set the next annual meeting for Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at 6 p.m.

Moving to the regular meeting, members accepted $90.80, from Eastbay Lodge, to the music department; $1,800, from Whitetails Unlimited, to the tech ed department; and $200, from Magic Salons/Dawn Brisky, for the weight room project.

The board also approved the hire of co-head golf coaches Megan Bitney and Dwayne Mosley; and assistant high school girls basketball coach Allison Golat-Hattamer. Also approved, was the resignation of assistant track coach Shane Sanderson; and co-middle school girls basketball coach Nicole Viegut.

Lindau reported to the board that he continues to monitor COVID activity in the county and region, and that to date of the meeting, the district had 10 students and staff cases, compared to the six COVID cases at the same time last year. For now, with the county health department backed up, the district performs their own contract tracing, informing students and staff they need to quarantine because of exposure to a positive case.

“There are a couple districts locally, who are no longer quarantining,” said Lindau, adding that he is unsure of how that is working for the districts. “I guess time will tell.”

There is no requirement at Lake Holcombe for mask wearing, although the health department is recommending it. Lindau said some students and staff are wearing masks of their own accord.

The school is making sure physical distancing is implemented in classrooms, where possible, which helps with contact tracing. Face coverings are still required on buses until further notice, per federal mandate.

Board member Jamie Tester Morfoot asked how the school knows when students and staff can return after they’re quarantined. Lindau says they must test negative, after seven days of quarantine.

“Are we getting documentation showing that test?” asked Morfoot.

Lindau confirmed that the school receives a copy of the test.