Levy referendum on minds of school board

Chuck Kajer, Managing Editor

It may be February, but November is on the minds of members of the New Prague Area School Board.

Board members had a brief discussion about an expected operating levy referendum to be held during the November election. Superintendent Jim Rouse told board members that his staff is working on the 2007-08 budget, and once that is finished, they will have a better idea of how much the district will need to ask voters for in November. The current operating levy, approved by voters in 2003, expires after this year.

Rouse added that he would be attending a workshop this week that goes over the levy referendum process.

Board member Jerry Walerius asked board members if there were any other issues that voters should consider in the November election.

You mean like a swimming pool? Board member Marty Beckius asked.

Beckius, who was a critic of the 2005 proposal, said he would like to see if any other entities would partner with the school to get an indoor swimming pool built.

Board members discussed whether they should put the issue before the voters again. A pool was part of the 1995 referendum in which voters approved an addition to the high school building, and it failed.

Rouse said there would need to be some research done before considering another pool referendum. Some people think it should be at the middle school