State education commissioner approves Litchfield School's May 19 referendum

LITCHFIELD -- Litchfield Public Schools will propose a new operating levy to local voters in a May 19 referendum.

Superintendent Bill Wold said today that the Litchfield School District received an e-mail notification from the commissioner of the state Department of Education this morning approving of the district's May 19 referendum.

Last month, the Education Department approved the district's three-year statutory operating debt recovery plan. It includes $1.2 million in budget cuts. Litchfield Public Schools fell into statutory operating debt in November after suffering an unexpected debt in special education. Voters also rejected a proposed levy during the general election.

The district must notify the Meeker County Auditor about the referendum by March 26, which is the state-mandated 53 days prior to the polling date.

Litchfield High School will be the only polling place for the referendum. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 19, Wold said.

The Litchfield School Board will begin discussions about the operating levy proposal details during its Monday regular meeting.