Elementary Bond Levy Approved for May Election

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) School Board unanimously approved a general fund levy to be voted on in the May 3 Special Election. The exact amount will be decided at the board’s March 22 meeting.

District Clerk Sally Johnson presented to the board that the state funds allotted to SLE for the 2016-2017 school year would be approximately $21,300 less than this year’s budget due to declining enrollment. Johnson said this is a preliminary estimate of the shortfall since more information will be available from the Office of Public Instruction in March.

“It hurts us perpetually forever because we can never get back to the funding ability of $1.36 million [this year’s current budget]. If we let it go it’s gone,” said SLE Superintendent Chris Stout. “As much as I don’t want to do this, I think we are in a position where we have to.”

The last SLE levy was run in 2014. It was a $17,999 operating levy and passed 352 to 180 votes. This increased taxes on a $100,000 home by $3.10 annually and on a $200,000 home by $6.21 annually. The levy supported the basic operations of the school.

“Most rural districts are in the same position,” said Stout. “Costs are not going down but the student population goes down just enough to where we lose funding.”

Chair Todd Johnson highlighted that the levy is for the general fund that finances the facility, staff and general operations at the school. He is concerned that the public will question the outdoor programs and other activities and say SLE should cut those before asking the voters for more money. The problem is those programs are grant funded. They do not affect the general fund and cannot be used to make up the general fund shortfall.

“The crux of that $21,000 is declining enrollment,” said Chair Johnson. “It doesn’t matter if you lose three students in the sixth grade. You still have to have a sixth grade teacher.”

Clerk Johnson pointed out that this year the SLE 20-year bond ends and comes off the tax roll. She also stressed that the $21,000 estimate would just be to maintain the current budget but does not account for increasing costs.

“It’s important to communicate that we won’t see a nickel from the Missoula bond,” said Stout. “The high school will and they have plans for that but the elementary district won’t [because SLE is not a part of the Missoula County Public Schools].”

The board voted unanimously to hold a general bond levy with the amount to be determined at the March meeting.

In other business:

• There will be a flashing speed sign placed on Seeley Lane to help slow drivers down near the school. While some board members expressed their desire to have it on Highway 83, Stout said it was only for the county road unless they can get the state’s approval.

• There are two positions open on the SLE School Board that will be voted on at the May 3 election. To apply for the board positions or for more information contact Sally at SLE, 677-2265.

• Colleen Harrington was hired as a long-term substitute teacher to teach while second grade teacher Julie Little is on maternity leave.

• At the March meeting, Stout will present the board with a five-day calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. The four-day school week is not being considered at this time.

The next board meeting will be March 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the SLE technology lab.