Litchfield School Board Meeting
The Litchfield School Board had a visit last night from FFA Advisor Rob Cole and FFA students who will be heading to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana at the end of October. Before they left the Board Room, the students did a demonstration of their award-winning parliamentary procedures skills.
The students took first place in the state competition last spring and will be competing at the national convention. The students at last night’s meeting included Riley Joyer, Anna Sorgatz, Brooke Caron, William Carlson, Cole Huffman and Ole Rogness.
Superintendent Beckie Simenson gave the Board an update last night on enrollment numbers. She says there are 582 students at Lake Ripley Elementary, 492 at Litchfield Middle School, 468 at Litchfield High School and 16 in the Alternative Learning Program for a total of 1,558 students.
The Litchfield School Board has approved of two donations to the Litchfield High School Athletics Department including $200 from Litchfield Ace Hardware and $680 from the Vern Madson Memorial. The Board approved of the 2023-24 snow removal contract with Andy Gilbertson Construction.
Business Manager Jesse Johnson’s recommendation to remove the tax abatement portion from the proposed levy, leaving in place the levy associated with the issuance of $1.5-million in general obligation school building bonds was approved on a 4-to-1 vote with Greg Mathews opposed. Mathews preferred an amount of $1.8-million. The $1.5-million can be used to replace the Middle School south parking lot for a cost between $400,000 and $500,000 and replacing the existing tennis courts for a cost between $900,000 and one-million dollars.
Johnson’s recommendation to certify the proposed levy at the maximum amount was also approved on a 4-to-1 vote with Mathews opposed. The truth-in-taxation meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on December 11th in the Wagner Education Building Board Room.