School levy left out of budget

The Noxon High School technology levy passed last May was not included in the school’s budget, the school board was informed Monday evening. School Board Chairman David Pafford alerted the board to an issue with the technology levy passed by district voters in May 2018. Pafford said that in the first week of January, it was discovered that the technology levy was not reported to the state Office of Public Instruction and was not included in the school’s budget, which led to it not being included on property tax bills in November.

The high school levy last May passed 412 to 280. The elementary school technology did not pass. The high school levy passed was $15,000 for five years. OPI informed Noxon Schools that one year of the levy will be lost because it was not included in the budget that was approved by the board and sent to OPI.

With that, the $15,000 a year levy did not make it onto tax bills in November. Pafford said that the district will not be able to recover those funds, and that any planned use of the technology levy will come from the school’s general fund. The school will be able to still collect the remaining four years of the levy by including it in future budgets.

“This mistake reinforces how everyone is involved in the budget process,” Pafford said, noting that the board welcomed a new superintendent and a new business manager during the budget process, but that eventually “it comes to us as a board who approves it.” Superintendent Mike Ehinger noted that they didn’t find out about the budget mistake until it was too late.

“Some lessons are hard to learn,” board member Justine Fanning said.

Also at the school board meeting Monday, the board voted to proceed with replacing 11 heaters in junior high and high school classrooms, a move that the board and staff say will make things more comfortable for students.

Ehinger said he received quotes from a couple of companies in order to estimate the project, which will be put out to bid in the coming weeks. Ehinger told the board that replacement parts cannot be ordered for the aging heaters.

“For the academic success of our students, we need to get a handle on this heating and air conditioning issue,” Pafford said. Pafford is pursuing grants to help fund the project.

Noxon Schools continues to work on Strategic Planning for the district and scheduled its next work session for 4 p.m. on Monday Feb. 11, ahead of the regular school board meeting. The board hopes to have staff and community members join and be involved in the process.

As Ehinger moves into the second half of his first year leading the school district, the board on Monday unanimously approved his evaluation, noting positive changes Ehinger has made in the district. “I see nothing but good coming for our kids in the future,” board member Lars Swanson said.

The next school board meeting for Noxon will be Monday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m., following the Strategic Planning session.