District sets special meeting to hear, discuss mill levy

Libby District 4 School Board members will gather for a special meeting Monday for the purpose of researching the possibility of taking a mill-levy request to voters this spring.

The meeting, which begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Little Theatre, will give board members a better understanding of the value of a mill while reinforcing guidelines for approaching the public for such a campaign, said Superintendent K.W. Maki.

Board members will hear Lincoln County Treasurer Nancy Trotter Higgins explain a mill and the process for taking the measure to voters.

“We’re looking at a $779,317 shortfall in the coming year,” Maki told the board during Monday night’s meeting. “We don’t want this to be a scare tactic, but there are no more schools to close. There is nothing else to do but eliminate staff.”

During a follow-up interview Tuesday afternoon, Maki explained that 85 percent of the district’s budget is used for payroll.

“That leaves just 15 percent for buildings, lights, heat and everything else,” Maki said. “My goodness, we’ve been real fortunate to secure grants to help, but that can’t do it all.”

During the board meeting, Maki outlined declining enrollment, providing a sheet that indicated enrollment in 1998 was 1,935 students. The 2012 enrollment is 1,138 or about 41 percent fewer students. Similarly, in 1998, the district had 200 teachers for those 1,935 students. Now, there are 128 teachers or about 36 percent fewer teachers, according to Maki’s figures.

Coach Tim Hodel urged Maki before making staff cuts to consider the dollars the district spends on renovating or updating its former elementary schools, specifically Asa 

Wood. 

   “I understand those concerns, but we also have to look at the benefits to the community,” Maki said. “Ultimately, it is the board’s decision of what will be done with (Asa Wood), but I don’t think the board wants it to be an eyesore with boarded up windows.”

   Board members are scheduled to do that very thing — discuss the Asa Wood property — at 5 p.m. Monday, after the Trotter Higgins presentation.

   Maki came to the $779,317 shortfall figure by calculating the loss of enrollment ($270,000), anticipated personnel costs ($211,357), maintenance expense ($50,000), anticipated insurance costs at 10 percent ($78,000), staff steps and lanes (169,000).

   Maki also enumerated previous steps the district has taken to reduce expenses, which included staff reductions, energy-efficient window replacement, night heat setbacks at district buildings, replacing lights and ballasts in all buildings, replacing the boiler in the high school that was estimated to be 41 percent efficient with one that is 91 percent efficient, replacing the gym heater at Libby Elementary School and the previous school closings of Plummer, McGrade, Asa Wood and Plummer.