Latest news with #DanTait
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tax levy to drop for ACGC
Tax relief is on the horizon for Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City property owners. At its Dec. 16 meeting, the ACGC School Board dropped its levy by about 4 percent. The levy payable in 2014 will be $2.36 million, down from this year's levy of $2.46 million. Most of this amount, $1.26 million, was approved for the district's general fund, with $173,165 designated for community service and $933,063 for debt service. Business Manager Dan Tait credited several factors for the levy decrease: deferred spending on a public safety project and overall reductions in spending over the past few years as the district has adjusted to a lower student population. Recent legislative action, including more timely school aid, is another factor. The district's total budget is approximately $8.5 million, with most of the revenue coming not from the levy, but from various state aids. Because the board was not increasing its levy, no Truth in Taxation public hearing was necessary this year. While a 4 percent levy reduction will translate into modest cuts in school property taxes, Superintendent Sherri Broderius and Tait said that greater relief appears to be in the district's future, once the bonds on the junior-senior high school building get paid off in 2016. The board also adopted a list of 2013-2014 goals, following discussion Monday evening and at an earlier planning workshop in late October. Major goals for the district include: * Updating communications, including a new website. * Developing a plan to renew the current operating levy in 2015, with a vote during the general election in November 2014. * Continued improvement in students' math and reading scores. * Developing five business classes for 2014-2015. * Maintaining rental income to cover operating costs at the Cosmos building, while continuing to seek to sell the building. Board Vice Chair Mike Hendrickson announced two recent commendations for the district: * Special Education teachers were recognized by the Southwest/West Central Cooperative for their compliance with Individual Education Plan standards, following a recent audit. * School Board Member Judy Raske is slated to receive a President's Award from the Minnesota School Boards Association on Jan. 16, in recognition of more than 300 hours of attendance at MSBA activities. Broderius and Raske reported that, although negotiations are progressing on the 2013-2014 teachers' contract, resolution is not expected before the first of the year. The annual reorganizational meeting for the ACGC board is scheduled for 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ACGC teachers to get 2.75 percent raise
The ACGC School Board unanimously approved Monday an agreement with the school district's teachers union. The two-year contract calls for a 2.75 percent salary increase for the 2015-2016 school year and another 2.75 percent increase for the 2016-2017 year. Under the new contract, a beginning teacher with a bachelor's degree will earn $36,630 per year this year, while a teacher with a master's degree and 20 years of experience would earn $68,501. That will rise to $37,638 and $70,385, respectively, next year. Also in the new contract is the first increase in district contributions to employee health insurance in 16 years, Business Manager Dan Tait said. The district will now contribute $5,500 annually toward health coverage, a $300 increase from the previous contract. Next year the district will contribute $6,000. The 39-page document also includes language pertaining to stipends for coaching and other extra- and co-curricular assignments, sick leave, vacations, grievance resolution, rehiring of retired teachers and other benefits. Most of these terms are similar to previous years, Tait indicated, adding, 'This contract was mostly about pay and health insurance.' Other actions taken The board adopted a school calendar for the 2016-2017 school year that continues the district's four-day-per-week student schedule. Students will usually attend Tuesday through Friday, with a few Mondays on short weeks prior to vacation breaks. Schools will open to students on Aug. 30 and conclude May 24 with graduation May 26. There will be a short winter vacation over the Christmas and New Year's holidays and no spring break except for a long weekend April 14-17. Risk and Prevention Coordinator Misty Langeth reported Monday about how she works with students, who are struggling academically and emotionally at school, and parents and staff who are seeking to encourage struggling students. The board approved a temporary agreement for ACGC superintendent Sherri Broderius to assist the Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart District with supervisory responsibilities for several weeks while the BLHS superintendent is on emergency leave. In other personnel issues, the board accepted the resignation of educational assistant Jordan Spaulding, and assigned Jamie Tanner as assistant volleyball coach and Tracey Rogers as junior high track coach.
