Triton board approves 2022-2023 budget, levy

Triton’s school board approved a school tax levy of $3,277,628.64 at the December school board meeting.

The levy amount includes $1,988,318.16 for the General Fund, $118,886.61 for Community Service fund and $1,170,423.87 for Debt Service.

The levy amount will be payable in 2023 but the funds will not be available to the district until 2024.

The levy amount does not represent the entire budget for the district as the district receives funding from other sources including the State of Minnesota.

The total 2022-2023 budget for the district will be $16,657,866 compared to $16,847,466 for the 2021-2022 school year.

Formulas for levies are set by the Minnesota State Legislature.

Seventy-five percent of the school budget comes from the state, local taxes 15.5%, Federal funds 7.2% and local fees 1.7%.

The total budget for 2022-2023 will be down about 1.9%.

In other action at the December meeting, the board approved the resignation/retirements for Elaine French as a special education coordinator, effective June 12, 2023; Diane Eipers as ECFE/SR coordinator, effective June 2, 2023 and Lona Jensen as educational assistant, effective December 31, 2022. They also approved the resignation of Rebecca Goossens as head volleyball coach, effective 2022.

An FMLA leave request for Ashlee Koll was approved effective January 9, 2023 for 12 weeks and contracts were approved for Laurie Essig as head volleyball coach, Gabby Geers as Cobra Kids assistant and Tina Kozisek at business office administrative assistant/accounts payable.

The final certified seniority staff list and the final classified staff seniority lists were also approved.

Board members also the yearly Wolf Ridge ELC Trip in January of 2024.

Student council representatives updated the board on recent council activities including a food drive, Santa Anonymous participation, sending military boxes to alumni, holiday bingo and planning for Snow Week in February.