A $7.52 million levy election to run May 20 is expected to be recommended to the Lakeland School Board by district leadership during a special meeting at 5:30 tonight at Timberlake High School, 5973 W. Highway 54, Spirit Lake.

When the decision was made to run the November levy at the flat rate of $9.52 million, the district was aware it would have to make cuts to programs and spending, states the board agenda item prepared by Lakeland Superintendent Lisa Arnold.

"A flat levy did not account for any of the inflationary costs the district has experienced and expects to continue to experience," the agenda item reads. "Additionally, we have also had to adjust for the reduction in state funding when the state moved from enrollment funding to funding based on the average daily attendance of students."

As officials planned the district's budget, they worked to cut $2 million at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

"Following the failed levy election, the board has found ways to cut the full $9.52 million from the general fund budget," the agenda item reads. "The magnitude of these cuts and the impact on the educational opportunities for students is too great."

District leadership has worked to cut an additional $2 million from the general fund in such a way that it doesn't impact class sizes, nor does it eliminate the supports in place for the classroom and the schools.

The proposed $2 million in cuts includes reducing: one custodial position per building to save $316,110; six full-time paraprofessionals for $191,429; two full-time facilities staff members to save $155,079; three full-time administrative assistants for $152,865; three full-time lab techs to save $142,418; and other positions in transportation, technology, library, behavior intervention and more.

Lakeland's supplemental levy supports programs and positions such as Future Farmers of America, student broadcasting, yearbook, pep band, choir, drama, student council, athletic directors, volleyball, softball, basketball, golf, track and field, tennis, football, soccer, school resource officers, armed safety specialists, transportation, advanced learning and student access to Kootenai Technical Education Campus, to name a few.

Info: sd272.org