GROVE CITY –– Paying off the mortgage could mean a 34 percent reduction in the 2015 school levy for taxpayers in the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School District.
The board certified a preliminary levy of $1.5 million at its meeting Monday. Last year it was $2.3 million.
Business Manager Dan Tait said the reduction in the preliminary levy is because the final payment of nearly $900,000 in debt service will be made.
The district will pay off its bond on the high school building in Grove City, as well as another capital expenditure bond used for various maintenance projects at district property.
The money for those bond payments was collected in 2014 and will be paid in the next couple months.
Although that debt service is being retired for the building projects, the school board is seeking voter approval to renew the district’s $805-per-pupil operating levy for another 10 years.
That issue will be on the ballot in November.
“We’re looking for financial support to continue to offer programs that are proven to be successful,” said Superintendent Sherri Broderius.
Meanwhile, the board gave its blessing to a comprehensive report that documents ACGC’s educational programs and growth in testing results that are included in its “World’s Best Workforce” summary.
This is the first year that the Minnesota Department of Education has required this new form of system accountability, which measure a district’s goals, curriculum, staff training and student achievements.
“That’s what education is about,” said Broderius, referring to the district’s goals and tests scores that reflect drastic improvements on statewide testing that took its elementary school from the lowest to the highest ranking.
The World’s Best Workforce reports were supposed to be submitted to the state by Oct. 1, but the state extended that deadline to give districts more time to provide the data.
Broderius said ACGC’s report is done and will be submitted by Oct. 1.
“We’re ready,” she said.
That deadline is also an important date for ACGC academics and achievements.
Broderius said that’s when the district will find out if the K-4 grades will be named a top “reward” school for the third year in a row and if the 5-6 grades will be named a “high performing” school for the third year under state ratings.
Also, an announcement is expected early next month on whether ACGC will be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education under the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. ACGC is one of just two Minnesota schools being considered for the national recognition.
