Voters to see school levies

LIND – The Lind and Ritzville School Boards agreed Nov. 22 to ask voters to approve replacement tax levies in February.

The Lind board approved Resolution No. 21/22-3 and the Ritzville board approved Resolution No. 2021-012 for replacement educational programs and operations tax levies.

If approved by voters, the funds will be used to support the modernization and remolding of school facilities.

The levies call for collection of $914,000 in 2023 and 2024 at an estimated property tax rate of $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The owner of a home valued at $200,000 would pay an estimated $450 annually for the levy, if approved by voters.

The Lind board also approved Resolution No. 21/22-4 and the Ritzville board approved Resolution No. 2021-013, for capital and technology improvements.

The levie s are for $25,000 per year to be collected in 2023 and 2024. The levy rate is estimated to be $0.06 per $1,000 assessed value.

If approved, that would be an additional $12 in taxes each levy year.

Both levies replace existing levies and taxes.

The levies will be on the Feb. 8 special election ballot in those school districts.

In other schools business during the meeting:

• FFA students reported on their recent trip to the national FFA convention in Indianapolis. The Agricultural Communications team placed 15th in the nation with its media plan. The Floriculture team placed fourth in the nation, and also participated in a “Random Acts of Flowers” community service event, making flower arrangements for hospitals. The Environmental and Natural Resources team placed eighth nationally on topics of wildlife identification, soils, water quality and GPS. The trip included a visit to the Indianapolis Zoo, and learning of many life lessons related to travel, including a first plane flight for one student. Looking ahead, the students are considering an opportunity to attend the Western National Roundup and Stock Show, considered the “Super Bowl” of livestock shows, in Denver, Colo., from Jan. 5-9.

• Board members accepted a letter of resignation from Business Manager Dana Telecky. After 15 years in Ritzville, Telecky has accepted the same position in the Davenport School District.

• Lind-Ritzville schools will have an “All Remote Prep Day” on Dec. 3. Students will be released at 12:30 p.m. to go home and complete a remote learning activity. The exercise is designed to prepare students for possible disruption to regular learning in the event of severe winter weather.

• The boards approved resolutions for waiver of the 180-day school year so that four full school days per year can be devoted to parent-teacher conferencing.

• The Ritzville board approved the Gay Student Alliance ASB Club. The club was approved by the Lind board at the October meeting, but the motion was not voted upon by the Ritzville board at that time.