Instructional Support Levy to be extended 5 years

Extending a tax levy that generates nearly $400,000 is a priority for the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School.

During discussion on Monday, Superintendent Patrick Carlin recommended the board extend the Instructional Support Levy (ISL), which is set to expire next year. The current levy generates "a significant amount of money" for the district's operating fund.

State law allows school boards to authorize an instructional support levy for five years. A 10-year ISL requires approval by district patrons. Revenues are generated by a property tax levy or through a combination of property tax and income surtax.

H-M-S currently uses property tax and a 1 percent income surtax to generate ISL revenues. According to discussion, the district's surtax rate is the minimum allowed by law; the maximum rate is 10 percent.

"If property tax revenues decrease, you can use a surtax to balance that out," Carlin explained. "It gives the board the maximum flexibility, which we have always been looking for."

The board authorized Carlin to prepare a resolution that authorizes extension of the ISL for five years. A public hearing must be held before the board takes final action.

• Transportation options

Board members, Carlin and Interim Transportation Director Jeremy Niichel discussed current and future transportation needs. H-M-S has three buses with over 200,000 miles and a vehicle used to transport students in wheel chairs that will need to be replaced.

"[Purchasing] one bus makes sense. It's at least 12 months out for delivery," Carlin noted. "Looking at the future, we're always going to need buses and they are always going to be more expensive."

Bids for 84-passenger diesel buses, including one with air conditioning, and a 77-passenger conventional gas bus were considered. All 10 of H-M-S's buses are 84-passenger models due to capacity needs for shuttle routes. Buses with gas engines are not designed to hold more than 77 passengers.

"The power is about the same as diesel, and you eliminate the DEF [diesel exhaust fluid] issue," Niichel said. "You're basically going to lose a row and a half of seats going from diesel to gas."

Quotes were also considered for smaller capacity buses for transporting passengers in wheel chairs. The current MV-1 is expected to be serviceable for some time, but the need for that type of vehicle is expected to continue.

"It might be too early to go there now, but we certainly could," Niichel noted.

Considering district needs and the anticipated delay in delivery, the board approved ordering an 84-passenger bus with air conditioning from Blue Bird. It will cost $176,106.

Additional vehicle purchases will be discussed again later in the year.