PLT #3 approves TIF renewal, middle school sports co-op

The board approved a TIF District extension with the City of Prophetstown, despite unknowns on how the money will specifically be spent. The Tax Increment Financing District was formed in 2002 to help spur development in Prophetstown, with the city receiving $135,000 last year. The TIF District expires in two years, but the city needs to start the renewal process since it needs approval by state legislators.

Mayor Steve Swanson attended a few BOE meetings to talk about the benefits of renewal for one more term. The city uses TIF to assist businesses with renovations, building repairs, a revolving loan fund through FNB, as well as attracting businesses by offering $1 lots and half of the costs of city services for building in the empty spaces downtown. Swanson says TIF funds are used as an “incentive to help attract businesses to grow the community.”  

“It benefits us both at this time,” said board member Tya Boucher of the agreement. Board President Chad Abell agreed, saying “it gives back the tax dollars that people spend in the community.”

“If we don’t like how they spend money, we can communicate at the council meeting,” said James Melton. “Let’s give the city council the ability to better the community – the potential is there.”  

Stuart Malone said the city needs to “build a plan and be economically responsible,” though they have the “best of intentions.” He was the sole no vote on the TIF extension vote.

With the BOE’s approval, the city will now move forward with legal paperwork and filings, with final approval to come from the state. The extension will be in effect for another 12 years and can’t be renewed after that.  

The BOE also approved a middle school sports co-op agreement with the Erie School District after months of meetings and discussions. The Board of Control voted 8-0 at their November meeting to move forward with middle school boys’ and girls’ basketball, volleyball, and cheer co-op starting next school year.  

Athletic Director Derick Cox said the co-op “increases opportunities for athletes, and builds the program by the numbers, not by ability. We’ll add it to the mix and hope to make it a more enjoyable experience for kids.”

Melton expressed concern with having “huge teams” where some kids might not get to play. “The JV games didn’t materialize like they were told,” he said.   

Cox said he wants the kids to succeed at their level or else they’ll walk away from the program and go do something else. PLT will have their same coaches with a base rate coaching salary, and the conference is supportive of the co-op.

The vote was approved pending the finalization of the agreement with Erie, who votes at their November meeting, and setting the terms of that agreement since it’s currently under the umbrella of the high school co-op. “We need to do some legwork and have the framework on the current co-op agreement to ensure the legal side is taken care of,” said Superintendent Heidi Lensing.

Other action items included a one-time permanent transfer of $140,000 from Operations & Maintenance to the Transportation budget after a public hearing was held. The board then approved the purchase of two used 71-passenger diesel buses while trading in two buses for the $143,093 total transaction. They also approved the Risk Management Plan after Lensing provided the property and casualty insurance numbers of $160,000.   

The consent agenda was approved which included November bills and payroll in the amount of $539,587.31, adding Gray Lives Matter to PHS Activity Fund, and adding Student Senate to TES Activity Fund. November’s personnel report including hiring Jonah Green as 6th grade basketball coach, Carl Weidel as high school softball head coach, and Montana Houzenga as assistant basketball cheer coach.  

Administrative Reports

Replacement windows at PES are set to be installed, and the Educational Foundation approved grants for a mini Tiny Town for the kindergarten and funding for an assembly. Principal Kara Kullerstrand thanked them for the two grants.

Lensing also gave many thanks to the Educational Foundation. “Not every school has one, or a thriving one, to offer support to the school, staff, and students the way they do,” she said. “We are extremely fortunate for their support. They provide a lot of great items for our students and staff.”

The foundation is very generous with grants under $350, and if a project is over that amount, they help with partial funding or a match. Lensing also requested a board liaison to attend quarterly meetings and provide support from the BOE level, with Malone volunteering.

Lensing read a note from the IASB thanking the district for hosting the Northwest division meeting last month. She reported that 6-12 Math teachers will be attending a conference, and three BOE members will be attending a Triple iii conference Nov. 18.

Lensing also thanked Maintenance Director Josh Mosher for cleaning out the storage area and properly disposing of over 900 fluorescent bulbs, scrap metal, old oil, and other items. He’s been building some shelving and organizing the space, which was requested after a property insurance inspection.

Informational Items

A representative from Gorenz & Associates reviewed the FY23 audit and recapped how the year went, noting that the district received a perfect 4.0 score and is in “good shape.” He went over operating funds, lack of debt, budgeted capital projects, a breakdown of revenues and expenditures, surpluses, increased EAV, the impact of inflation, and a 5-year outlook with decreased replacement taxes and loss of other federal funding.  

The public facilities planning meeting on Nov. 9 was well-attended by staff, board members, and the community, with the same presentation planned for Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in Tampico. The board recommended having a board or staff member at every table, having information or FAQs about areas already discussed, and direct the community to the information on the website.

Melton asked what’s next after the community meetings, with Lensing saying they would invite architects to a board meeting to give them direction, plus look at operating costs to determine what’s spent on facilities, determine available funding, and discuss where the kids would go in the interim. “There’s lots of pieces and so many variables. We can come up with any plan we want but we must have community support and dollars, or else it’s all for naught,” said Lensing.  

Transportation Director Dawn Fisk told the board there’s “not enough personnel to get the kids from one town to another in any scenario. The only possible way to make it happen is to have drastically different start times between elementary, middle school, and high school, if we keep the current staffing levels.”    

Abell said the BOE needs to build a budget framework for the next 15-20 years and come back with another series of meetings. Lensing agreed, saying that “we’re doing well and want to continue operating well.”    

She also reported on ongoing HVAC issues at the 6-12 Campus and that the repair company is unable to find the part needed to fix the current system. The issue leaves no heat in a few offices. She supplied an estimate for $36,000 bid for a new HVAC system in the entire main office of the 6-12. She noted that there’s a “higher threshold” of $50,000 under which the district would not have to seek bids – as long as it is for a one-time cost to repair an existing structure/system. There was board consensus to get the project rolling, with Lensing to provide a timetable at the December meeting.   

She also provided updated information on the finalization of the district property/casualty/liability insurance.  The district is insured by ISDA, an insurance company that only covers school districts. The loss control specialist appraised the buildings and their contents, determining the district was underinsured.  The policy with ISDA has blanket coverage for 85 million versus the 50 million coverage on the district’s previous policy.

The board reviewed the tentative Tax Levy with the projected rate based on a 9% increase to the EAV. The 2022 Equalized Assessed Valuation was $126,484,139, and the 2023 projected estimate is $137,145,098. The board will have a Truth in Taxation hearing before next month’s meeting since the district could get 105% more than last year with the higher EAV.

Lensing also presented a District Achievement report that detailed the “rebound after Covid.” She went over SAT scores, academic success vs. facilities, and state summative designations based on student achievement, state metrics, proficiency, and growth. The middle school received an exemplary designation, given to 10% of school statewide, and the elementary and high school received commendable designations.  

“It tells a lot about the district and reaffirms that students and staff have risen to the challenges and continued to improve after the last few unprecedented years,” she recapped. Next month, she’ll present more information on strategic planning and professional development.

The PLTTA reported a “busy time filled with learning, fun, and growth.” There will be various assemblies and performances in December, including “Ho Ho Ho, the Santa Claus Chronicles,” at PES on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.  

The TES Senate helped with the Veterans Day assembly and were able to “learn from our heroes.” The kindergarten Tiny Town will encourage “social, literacy, and math skills, dramatic play, and using imagination.” Recent STEM activities include building a platform for pumpkins, learning of tree life cycles by watching a gingko tree lose its leaves, and lessons in ceramics and using the pottery wheel at the 6-12 campus.  

In honor of School Board Appreciation Day on Nov. 15, 1st graders made a poster and donut thank you cards for the board members, with teacher Blaire Hahn delivering them at the meeting.  

The next PLT BOE meeting will be on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. at the District Office.