Lake Mills plans school referendum for Oct. 2

By Helen Mansfield for the Daily Times
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 1:14 PM CDT

LAKE MILLS - The Lake Mills Area School Board decided Monday that there are building, maintenance and educational needs that have to be met and will require asking the public for support through a special election with three referendum questions.

The election will be held on Oct. 2 at school district sites for voting on these questions.

Question No. 1 is for the bonding of the middle school. The board adopted a resolution to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $15,330,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of constructing additions to and remodeling, renovating and improving the Lake Mills Middle School and athletic fields; and acquiring furnishings, fixtures and equipment.

The second question is for the bonding of the high school project. The board authorized general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $5.1 million for the public purpose of paying the cost of constructing additions to and remodeling, renovating and improving the Lake Mills High School and athletic fields; and acquiring furnishings, fixtures and equipment.

The third question on the ballot asks for a revenue cap override for five years. The revenues included in the school district budget beginning with the 2008-09 school year and ending with the 2012-2013 school year would be authorized to exceed the revenue limit by $400,000 a year for nonrecurring purposes consisting of maintenance, technology upgrades and replacements.

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Detailed information about the plan and how it differs from the earlier referendum questions that failed to pass will be prepared and presented to the public in the weeks before this election.

Because tax money does not come in all at the same time, the board also authorized the temporary borrowing in the amount not to exceed $1.3 million to meet the immediate expenses of operating and maintaining the public instruction in the district during the current school year.

The board approved the bid from for the short-term borrowing from JP Morgan Chase Bank for $1.3 million at an interest rate of 3.696 percent with the total interest of $49,783.07.

Childs reported about a letter asking that the district should consider again consolidation efforts with the Jefferson School District and he will attend a meeting to discuss it.

He updated the board about the Prospect Elementary School remodeling project, saying the safety issues are completed, but some painting still needs to be done.

Board President Mike Johnson reported about student policies that are being updated: student attendance accounting, student policies, goals; equal educational opportunities, and student discrimination complaint procedures; and notice of equal educational opportunities.

The board approved the updating of policy 533 about technology acceptable use; procedures, consequences; school board conferences, conventions and workshops; instructional materials selection and adoption.

Sander reported that he has not found a suitable person for the outside buildings and grounds custodial position, so the board tabled the subject until the September meeting to see if he can fill the position by then.

The board approved a one-year service agreement with Johnson Controls for HVAC services at a cost of $28,387.

Board members approved the Automotive Youth Educational System Program for 2007-08 with the Jefferson School District for two students to participate at a cost of $2,274.

The board accepted the resignation of Mark Bussian as a long-term substitute teacher and approved a contract for that position with Leah Wendt for 2007-08.

The board accepted the co-curricular resignations of Jessica Mundt as varsity dance adviser; Tom Davison as assistant track coach and Jason Wierza as junior varsity girls basketball coach, and thanked them for their time and efforts.

The board approve the following co-curricular positions for the 2007-08 school year: Jason Wierzba and Pat Hauser as co-head boys and girls track coaches; Steven Murphy as an assistant boys and girls track coach; and James Hollenberger, Steven Nass and Alex Schaar as assistant football coaches.

The board approved 4K contracts for 2007-08 with two sites, Kuhl Development and Teddy Bear Pre-School. A third site is under consideration. There are 82 students signed up.

Board members accepted the gift of benches at the tennis courts from Pat and Boyd Forest.

The board also heard reports from administrators about their building activities, programs and back-to-school plans.