Financial Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi, pictured above, reviewed the current 2023-2024 budget as part of the Truth in Taxation meeting which was held on Dec. 4. The board voted to increase the tax levy by 4.07 percent.

The Blue Earth Area School Board voted to set their proposed tax levy for the next year at $3,438,894 which is a $134,361 (4.07 percent) increase over the previous year.

Prior to voting on the tax levy, a Truth in Taxation Meeting was held where BEA Financial Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi reviewed the current 2023-2024 budget and led a discussion on the proposed property tax levy for taxes payable in 2024. There was also time for public comment during the meeting but no members of the public were in attendance.

Wilhelmi presented an overview of the General Fund, the Food Service Fund, the Community Service Fund and the Debt Service Fund.

“The 2023-2024 budget shows an increase of 4.06 percent in total revenue with the bulk of that coming from the General Fund,” he explained. “The district’s expenses show an increase of .8 percent during the same time period.”

Wilhelmi reminded those in attendance that a school district’s levy authority is determined by state funding formulas and by board approval.

Craig Popenhagen of CliftonAllenLarson attended the meeting virtually to review the audit report for the year ended June 30, 2023.

“We are issuing what is known as a “clean” audit report,” Popenhagen told the board. “In fact, overall, you had a pretty good report.”

Popenhagen talked about a couple of the key financial highlights for the 2022-2023 fiscal year during his presentation.

“The General Fund balance increased from $5,712,106 in 2021-2022 to $6,701,414 in 2022-23,” he commented. “This increase of $989,308 was impacted by staffing decisions, expense controls and the availability of federal resources.”

Popenhagen noted the Food Service Fund decreased from $654,802 in 2021-2022 to $626, 531 in 2022-2023.

“There was a decrease but the fund remains strong,” he explained. “The decrease of $28,271 was due to the extension of free breakfast meals to all students in fiscal year 2023 without offsetting revenue.”

Following the completion of Popenhagen’s presentation, the board voted to accept the 2022-2023 Audit Report.

Superintendent Mandy Fletcher updated the board on ESST (Earned Sick and Safe Time) and said memorandums of understandings had been drawn up with the BEA Education Association and AFSCME 65 regarding the implementation of the new policy. Those memorandums were approved later in the meeting.

Fletcher also spoke on the READ Act which was passed into law by the Minnesota Legislature earlier this year with the ultimate goal being for every student, beginning in kindergarten, to read at or above grade level every year.

“This will have an enormous impact on our school,” Fletcher said. “It involves a significant time and cost commitment. The initial training takes one year to complete.”

Fletcher also shared that the BEA Education Foundation would be meeting later in the week but preliminary figures show that about $40,000 was raised at the Maroon and Gold Gala in November.

Elementary principal Dave Dressler reported the elementary grades had an 86 percent participation rate for school conferences and that the middle school had a 67 percent participation rate.

Moving onto some personnel issues, the board voted to approve the retirement of Al Gieser, Buildings and Grounds supervisor, effective May 10, 2024.

“Al was first hired in 1990,” Fletcher said. “He moved into his current position in 1999.”

The board expressed their gratitude to Gieser for all his years of service.

Melissa Smith was approved as a new paraprofessional by the board who also accepted the resignation of Little Giants associate, Taryn King.

Due to scheduling conflicts, chairperson Sara Hauskins asked to change the date of the regularly scheduled Jan. 8, 2024 meeting. The board made the decision to change the date of the meeting to Jan. 17.

Hauskins informed the board members the Joint Powers committee met with the city of Blue Earth regarding the bleachers at the baseball diamond at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

“They have found a company who will get the bleachers back in compliance,” Hauskins commented. “The total cost to do so will be $20,000 with the school being responsible for half of the total, or $10,000. Work will begin next spring as soon as the snow melts.”

The board also:

• Approved a resolution establishing combined polling places for 2024.

• Approved a resolution regarding the tally of write-in votes for BEA School District elections.

• Voted to approve the non-certified and certified seniority lists for 2023-2024.

• Accepted donations from Bevcomm and the Winnebago American Legion which will be used for Buccy Bags.

• Had the final reading and approval of 31 District policies.