School District 6 cancels mill levy, looks to future tech levy
The School District 6 School Board last week voted unanimously to not run the $44,709 mill levy election to help fund the high school next school year. Board member Jim Henjum was absent.
The levy would have been an increase of 1.33 mills based on last year’s taxable value. This would have increased the annual property taxes for a home with a market value of $100,000 by $1.80 and a home with a market value of S200,000 by $3.59.
The board discussed running a technology levy within the next year that could be a mail-in ballot with 45 days notice.
As a rough estimate, the tech levy could bring in $500,000 for the district, Superintendent Steve Bradshaw said.
The district has added technology to the buildings but the tech levy would allow the schools to upgrade computers consistently and maintain the current infrastructure, he said. It would also add new programs that encourage learning and technology, as well as teachers to facilitate it.
Board member Scott Emmerich said voters don’t care how little a levy adds to their taxes, they aren’t going to want to vote for a tech levy when they just voted for a small mill levy.
In other board matters:
• Boardmember Larry Wilson noted that Talbott Road was backed up with parents picking up students from the junior high for more than 20 minutes, when he visited the school recently.
Principal Dave Wick said its unusual to have traffic backed up onto the road, but the pick up zone has been an issue since the school was built. He talks to parents about the parking lot situation every year.
• Wilson brought up concerns about the elementary science fair that it appeared that everyone got ribbons, yet some projects had obvious help from parents. He suggested lessening the competitiveness if parents are engaged with the project. Wick said its a complicated issue and difficult to judge when students are getting different levels of help.
• The board voted to approve of Browning joining the Northwest Class A conference for the 2017-2018 school year. They noted that it wouldn’t add much travel for the district and it would simplify scheduling with 10 teams in each division.
• The board voted to continue membership with Montana School Boards Association for the 2016-2017 school year. The dues are $12,117.
• The board approved tenure teacher hires for the district and hirings for junior high and high school fall and winter extra-curricular activities.
• Students from Jennifer Stone’s advanced painting class and Kate Daniel’s graphic design and pottery classes have their artwork on display at Montana Coffee Traders during March.