School Districts 361, 362, 363 elections are on Tuesday

To be decided for School District 361 is whether or not to approve two separate referendum questions regarding school funding that would come from tax levies.

Residents of that district should vote at the Backus Community Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters will mark yes or no on the following two ballot questions (see the Oct. 19 edition of The Daily Journal for more information):

ISD 361 Ballot Question No. 1

A “yes” vote to Ballot Question No. 1 will not raise current taxes, but would extend the previously approved (2001) referendum for 10 years. The failure of this referendum would reduce the annual operational revenues of ISD 361 by $900,000. This question stands alone from Question No. 2 and may pass even if No. 2 fails.

ISD 361 Ballot Question No. 2

A “yes” vote to Ballot Question No. 2 would raise current taxes and is contingent upon the passing of Question No. 1. This revenue would be used to fund art, academic and athletic activities. Art activities could include visual and performing arts, music and dance, etc.

Specific questions regarding each of the ISD 361 ballot questions were recently posed to The Daily Journal, and Falls Superintendent Don Langan responded to The Journal, as follows:

Question: Can or will the money in the continuing referendum be used for wages or salaries?

Langan: “It would be accurate to say that a portion of the operating referendum would be used to pay salaries and wages, as was the case with the 2001 operating referendum.

“Without the revenue provided by the operating referendum, there would be less revenue available to pay salaries and wages, thus less personnel to provide programs for students; (the) end result being less programming available for students.

“The resolution calling for the renewal of the current referendum contains the following language: ‘The additional revenue will be used to finance school operations....’ I believe this is the same language that appeared in the 2001 school board resolution. A major part of our school operations is wages and salaries for staff.”

Question: Can kids with a 'D' average take part in student activities that could be funded by Ballot Question No. 2?

Langan: “The school district's activities program follows guidelines established by the Minnesota State High School League. The MSHSL requires that a student must be making progress toward graduation to be eligible to participate in MSHSL activities.

“Students are eligible to participate with a ‘D’ average under MSHSL rules. The school district has a more restrictive rule whereby a student who fails any course of study, regardless of the student's ‘average grade for all courses,’ becomes academically ineligible for participation for two weeks or two events, and must, at the end of this period, demonstrate the student’s passing in all classes. A grade of ‘D,’ is the minimum passing grade in all courses required for eligibility.” (In the case of special-needs students, meeting the goals of the student's IEP determines eligibility.)

School District 362 Littlefork-Big Falls School Board Election

Residents in School District 362 should cast votes on school board candidates from noon to 8 p.m. at the Littlefork Community Building.

There are no races in this election. Three uncontested, incumbent board members with expiring four-year terms are up for reelection.

Currently serving, Keith Knaeble has been on the L-BF school board since January 2006 and is at the end of his first term. Anita Gray joined the board in January of 2003 and is completing her third term. Board member Mike Imhof has served the L-BF school board since January 2006.

School District 363, South Koochiching/Rainy River

(Indus and Northome) One-Day Bond Issue

Taxpayers of School District 363 will be voting on a one-day bond issue. Polling places, open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., will be the Northome Community Center and the Indus School.

Voters will vote yes or no on whether to authorize the school district to issue and sell bonds in an amount not to exceed $495,000, of which an excess amount of $290,000 may be kept for the district. Approval of the bond would not affect taxes, but rejection would require the amount to be returned to the state, which would prevent it from being used for the betterment of the school site and facilities as well as curriculum materials.

Polling Places & Hours

School District 361: International Falls voters in the special referendum election should go to Backus Community Center, a combined polling place for all territories. Eligible voters residing in the district may vote from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

School District 362: Littlefork-Big Falls voters should cast their votes in the school board election from noon to 8 p.m. at the Littlefork Community Building.

School District 363: Indus and Northome taxpayers who will be voting on the district’s bond issue should vote at the Indus or Northome schools, respectively. Those polling places are open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.