The United South Central School District held their Truth in Taxation meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Before voting to set the levy, USC finance manager Stacie Whiteside gave a brief overview of the district’s budget and various factors which will affect the levy.

“I want to remind everybody that revenue formulas are set by the State Legislature, except for voter approved referendums,” she shared. “Local levy and state aid mix are set by the State Legislature. Also, an increase in local taxes does not necessarily mean an increase in revenues for the School District.”

Whiteside also pointed out a change in the amount of federal aid the district had received.

“Federal aid has been typically less than five percent of our revenue,” she explained. “It nearly doubled this year.”

Following Whiteside’s presentation, board members passed a resolution certifying the 2021 tax levy, to be collected in 2022, at $3,538,977, which is $133,268 less than last year’s levy of $3,672,245.

The Truth in Taxation meeting had followed a special meeting to review an audit of the School District.

“It was a clean audit,” Greg Lawson of Feldmann & Company of Austin, said.

While reviewing the financial figures, it was a different set of numbers Lawson emphasized as being a positive for the School District.

“You held good with your enrollment numbers,” Lawson commented. “You did better in that area than most other districts in Minnesota.”

The board approved the audit report.

During the regular meeting elementary principal Jennifer Taylor reported the enrollment in grades K-6 was 360 in 18 sections while high school principal Julie Stauber said the enrollment in grades 7-12 stood at 321, which was down by three students from last month.

“We hope to have the high school Student Council up and running by the end of the semester,” student representative to the USC School Board, Ethan Koehler, stated. “I also want to congratulate the FFA for their performance at the region competition and for their fruit sales grossing $36,000.”

Superintendent Keith Fleming brought up the federal vaccine, testing and masking mandates.

“We will have to see if the Supreme Court issues a stay,” Fleming noted. “If not, we will have to prepare for weekly testing of unvaccinated employees. The district is supposed to compile a list of vaccinated and unvaccinated workers by Jan. 10. We have applied for a grant to help pay for the testing.”

The pay for substitute teachers was also on the agenda.

“Our daily rate is currently $120,” Fleming commented. “I think we need to raise it to at least $135.”

Some board members wondered if that was a big enough increase.

“I am thinking we need to be at $150,” board member Jon Feist said.

Board member Tom Legred supported the opinion of Feist.

“I agree with Jon. We do not want to lose our subs,” Legred said. “I do not think an inflationary correction is enough.”

The board passed a motion setting the daily pay rate for substitute teachers at $150 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with the stipulation to assess the situation at a later date.

During the meeting the board also:

• Approved ratification of the Education Support Professionals (ESP) Master Agreement.

• Passed a resolution establishing combined polling places for multiple precincts and designating hours during which the polling will remain open for voting for School District elections not held on the day of a statewide election.

• Voted to renew the district’s contract with Teachers on Call.

• Accepted the resignation of paraprofessional Jayne Meyer and approved the pregnancy leave of elementary teacher Mikayla Wegner.

• Approved the contracts of preschool paraprofessional Megan Ehlert, fourth grade teacher Alissa Norman and ELL Success coach Lucila Reyes.

• Voted to accept the bid in the amount of $6,500 to purchase a new pressure washer for the bus garage to replace the current one which is 25 years old.

• Approved a bid for the purchase and installation of two bluetooth controllers for the sound systems in the gymnasiums in the amount of $1,605, from Video Services Incorporated of Mankato. The purpose of the controllers is to limit access to the sound systems.

• Voted to purchase a new eight-channel amplifier and speakers for the high school gymnasium from Video Services in the amount of $6,812.