Stillwater Schools to Seek Levy Approval

The Stillwater school board on last week unanimously passed a resolution of intent to hold a levy in November.

The resolution states that the school district intends to place one question on the ballot seeking an eight-year levy subject to a rate of increase for inflation renewing the existing levy and increasing it by $482 per pupil, for a total of $1,495 per pupil subject to inflation.

If passed, the levy would begin in 2014, and be payable starting in 2015.

Before the discussion, School Board Chair Kathy Buchholz noted that the resolution was passed more than four months before the state requires an official ballot decision to be made.

The board felt it was important to get information about a levy out to the public with time to respond to questions and share information, as well as to see what action the Legislature takes related to education funding, she said.

An official vote on the language of a ballot question will take place in August, per state law.

If approved by voters in November, the proposed levy would result in a tax increase of about $15 per month for owners of a $250,000 home, which is the median priced home in the district.

The request covers three main areas:

1. Renewal of the expiring levy;
2. Support for the new strategic plan; and
3. Enhanced school safety and security.

“Our district, for the first time since I’ve served on this board, has a solid levy investment proposal in place,” Buchholz said. “We’ve provided details of how the current levy is being used, and what is at stake if the levy expires. We have an incredible new strategic plan – created by our community in partnership with district staff – that provides details of how any new money will be spent. We have feedback from our community that says they believe in our schools and want to support a well thought out plan for our future. We have that plan in place, and I look forward to sharing it with our residents in the months ahead.”

If the levy passes, the district will follow the steps laid out in the strategic plan. If it fails, the board will cut the $11 million in budget cuts will be enacted.

• Click here to view the new strategic plan
• Click here to view the list of budget cuts

The levy request in this proposal assumes additional state funds will be provided by the Legislature this year, Superintendent Corey Lunn told the board. If this increased state funding is not realized, the board may need to reconsider the request before approving a final ballot question. 

That list includes items that would affect all students, whether they attend public schools or not, such as changes in transportation services and a switch to a four-day school week.

Though the complete plan comes with added costs, district staff will repurpose existing resources and re-allocate funds to pay for all of the year one action steps and 25 percent of the action steps in years two through five, Lunn said. The remaining 75 percent will be included in this fall’s levy request.

This post will be updated with additional comments from school board members. So check back soon.