School Board Votes for Special Election

The USD 480 Board of Education met for a special meeting Thursday at noon at Central Office. There was just one item on the agenda, and that was rather or not to hold a special election for the resolution that allows the school board to levy up to eight mills in five years in the capital outlay.

The petition that was certified on Tuesday currently freezes the capital outlay. Business director Jerry Clay found out from the KASB office that the board can not set a new resolution for another nine months.

This left the board with just two options. The first was to do nothing and have no capital outlay for the year which would cut $762,663 in funds to the district. The second choice was to hold a special election.

After some discussion the board agreed that every registered voter should have the opportunity to have a say in the matter and voted to approve holding a special election on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

The special election will decide rather or not the board can keep the resolution they approved back on August 10, 2009 to levy four mills for the 2009-10 term.

During the discussion at the meeting the board and adminstration talked about how losing all of the capital outlay would affect the school system. Superintendent Vernon Welch said it would be a big hit to the educational process. He said it could lead to the cutting of programs and other things that are vital to the district.

If the election fails, USD 480 will go from four mills in the capital outlay to zero for 2009-10.

Seward County Clerk Stacia Long and assistant county clerk Crystal Clemens were also in attendance and advised the board to hold town halls to help educate the voters about what will be voted on. Advance voting will begin on September 28, with Election Day set for October 13.