Plains Public School District asks for two levies

PLAINS – The Plains Public School District is asking for two levies to be voted on, one for the elementary school in the amount of $35,000 and one for the high school in the amount of $30,000.

According to Plains Superintendent, Thom Chisholm, the levies will go towards general fund operations including the salaries of certified and classified staff, extracurricular activities, budgets for supplies and textbooks, operational bills as well as a plethora of other maintenance budgets.

“The general fund is the meat and potatoes of (budgets),” said Chisholm.

The last voter approved general fund levy was ten years ago in 2003.

Due to declining enrollment, the increase of annual cost of operations, increased state and federal regulations and limited legislative support, Chisholm said the money is a conservative estimate of what the district will need to keep operating.

“We didn’t go for anything extra, we went for the bare bones,” said Chisholm.

In order to have more money in their general fund, the Plains Public School District has already reduced the number of general fund sponsored field trips, has consolidated staffing duties and teaching assignments, and reduced extracurricular expenses, supplies and textbooks.

There has been an elimination of lower level coaching positions including some junior high sports positions, as well as an overall reduction in staff putting more burdens on the teachers, something Chisholm explained is never profitable to the kids.

If voters pass the levies, the school board of trustees will then vote on the upcoming budget and if the money is not needed, the taxes are not levied.

However, the levies asked for are essential to the school district, said Chisholm.

Election date for both levies and the school board of trustees are on May 7 and this year the voting system is by mail-in ballots.

Ballots may be mailed in or remitted to the district office. All ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on May 7.