Trending
LEAVITTSBURG --The LaBrae Board of Education has taken the first step to placing a 3.0-mill five-year replacement levy on the general election ballot in November to replace a current permanent improvement levy.
The board approved the initial reading Monday that will have the county auditor certify the exact millage and amount for the issue to generate annually over five years. The board will need to take a second vote on the issue at a future meeting.
Superintendent Anthony Calderone said the current permanent improvement levy was passed originally in 1989 and has been reduced over the years from 3.0- to 1.55-mills.
He said the replacement levy will bring the issue back to about 3 mills at 2024 valuation.
He said the monies generated from the levy can only be used for school facilities, equipment and furnishing the facilities. This would include adding to, renovating and remodeling.
In other business, Calderone said with the retirement at the end of the school year of Kay Suzelis, who is the principal at LaBrae Intermediate School, other principals will be moved to new positions for the 2023-24 year.
Martin Kelly who is the middle school principal, will be transferred to intermediate principal and Todd Rowe who is currently the assistant high school principal will be transferred to the middle school principal.
All appointments will be effective July 1.
The board approved the elimination of the assistant high school principal position and the assistant athletic director effective July 1 through reduction-in-force.
Calderone said over 12 years the district has been able to eliminate positions and reduce staff with retirements in administration.
Rowe's resignation as athletic director effective July 1 was approved by the board. Calderone said that position has not been filled yet.
In other action, the board:
• Named John Maurer as head custodian at Bascom Elementary School on a one-year contract;
• Accepted resignation of Janice Kovac-Silvers, high school mathematics teacher, effective Aug. 25;
• Passed a resolution expressing support for strengthening the fair school funding plan and opposing proposed backpack scholarship legislation. Officials said they oppose the backpack program that would significantly increase the number and availability of vouchers for students to attend private schools at the expense of public taxpayers.