A formal presentation will be made in December on the proposed tax levy for Beecher School District 200-U, but the board members received a sneak peek at the November 12 meeting.
Supt. Jack Gaham is looking at the tax levy being 4.99 percent. Last year, it was 5.09 percent.
Of course, the big question on residents’ minds is how much taxes they will be paying.
Gaham said there are too many variables to be pinned down to a concrete response, as items such as Equalized Assessed Value come into play for each property owner.
“Are my taxes going up?” he said. “I can’t answer that but, on the website, we are going to renew and update the levy calculator so you can click on it and download it.
“You put your property value – your EAV – into the system, and I’ll have two different numbers for you. One is last year’s rate. Then, there is a new rate and if your EAV does or does not change. So I cannot answer specifically if your tax will go up. I don’t know your EAV.”
More information will be provided at the December 10 meeting.
Coming and going
The board acknowledged the resignations of junior high school custodian Dennis Martz, full-time elementary school custodian Angel Haran, high school boys golf coach David Sarafin, high school boys soccer coach Dawn Compton, and high school girls golf coach Kevin Martewicz.
The board approved Martewicz to take over the high school boys golf head coaching job.
It also approved Veronica Martinez Garcia as full-time custodian, Jennifer Wyma for a social media position, and Steve Nelson as a volunteer junior high boys basketball coach.
Growing and growing
Elementary school students in the district were recognized for their growth in their respective subjects.
In kindergarten Sabrina Smothers and Abel Martinez Gonzales were lauded.
In first grade, Magnolia Graniczny (reading), and Qayden Cunningham (math) were recognized. In second grade, Maxine Gatto (reading) and Dexter Grutizus (math) were noted. In third grade, Roman Rodriguez (reading) and Jacob Leib (math) were recognized.
In fourth grade, Alayna Weekly (reading) and Samuel Bertrand (math) were recognized. In fifth grade, Reid VonAlven (reading) and Sofia Bentivenga (math) were honored.
Snow day to be made up February 27
Due to the November 10 snow day, Februrary 27 will now become a school day. It was originally being held as a day off that could be used as an emergency day.
Gaham was quizzed as to why November 10 was a snow day rather than an e-learning day, and he said that word of the impending snow broke during the weekend, and he didn’t think many students would have their computers at home.
Other news
• The board renewed the CLEAR Residency system for three years, citing the system has caught non-district students trying to attend the school, it eases a burden on the office staff, and it has been paying for itself with the money saved by catching the offenders.
• The board approved Beecher-based Lange Trucking and Excavating proposal for snow removal.
• It approved a proposal from City-Wide for work done at the junior high school.
• It also approved the proposal from C-Craft for doors at the high school