School board approves proposed budget

A proposed fiscal year 2022-2023 budget that calls for a slight decrease in the tax rate was approved by the Unified School District 333 board of education during its regular meeting on Monday night.
The school board voted 7-0 to approve a budget with an estimated tax rate of 46.624 mills.
The actual tax rate to fund the 2021-2022 budget was 47.234, and in 2020-2021 it was 46.751.
The 2022-2023 budget calls for $31,716,339 in total expenditures with $3,521,571 in total taxes to be levied. That includes $9,191,893 in general fund and $3,088,038 in supplemental general (local option budget).
The budget also includes $2,474,194 in capital outlay funds.
Superintendent of schools Quentin Breese, speaking during the budget hearing, informed the board members that the district will be paying down the $5.5 million, 20-year bond approved by voters in 2013 for the construction of a FEMA shelter and an HVAC system replacement at the Concordia Elementary School and other energy efficiency improvements in the district.
Breese said that paying down the bonds will save the district about $38,000 in interest.
The board also approved the Revenue Neutral Rate resolution pursuant to Kansas statute.
In other action taken during the meeting, the board approved the early graduation requests for Rebekah Brown, Gunnar Hale, Katria Kindscher, Michael Lindsay and Braden Wachsnicht.
Included in the certified staff changes approved by the board was the termination of Concordia Junior-Senior High School science and horticulture teacher Bruce Jacobs.
During a special meeting on August 15, the board adopted a resolution giving notice of its intent to terminate Jacobs.
The resignation of Nancy Holbert, junior-senior high school registrar and guidance office secretary, effective January 2, was approved.
New USD 333 hires included in the classified changes include:
Shawn Cassidy, food service student worker; Virginia Anderson, substitute teacher/para educator; Leslie Girard and Samantha Dillow, Concordia Afterschool Program; Shawn Woolsey, assistant girls' golf coach; John Hake, assistant high school football coach; and Todd Robinson, substitute teacher/para educator.