W-MU school board approves property tax levy

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

WINFIELD ? The Winfield-Mt. Union School Board breezed through its agenda in record time Wednesday night, approving the property tax levy, approving salaries and wages for the 2016-17 school year, and approved new LED lighting for the district.

Carmen Benson, business manager and board secretary, said the board approved a levy of $12.23 per $1,000 taxable valuation. The 2015-16 school year?s tax levy was $12.93 per $1,000 taxable valuation.

After adjourning into a closed session, the board set the wages and salaries for the upcoming school year.

?We approved a certified four percent total package increase,? said Benson. ?This is year two of two for the total package increases.?

The board also signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) for a 3B annuity benefit for cash for one year. Benson said a 3B annuity is comparable to a 401K.

Classified staff also received one step up on the salary schedule.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a bid from Sitlers Electric, of Washington, to replace the lights within the building with LED lighting. The bid price was for $39,653, but after an energy rebate from Alliant Energy, the total cost will only be $21,336.50. ?They (Sitlers) will come in on a weekend and replace the lights,? she said.

The board also approved a three-year contract with Triple R for driver?s education services. The contract was for $355 per year.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of Travis Jones, junior high baseball coach; Nicholas Carlos, band instructor; and accepted the resignation of Michelle Niebuhr, assistant volleyball coach.

The next W-MU School Board meeting will be Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 6 p.m., at the school?s media center.