RIVER FALLS – River Falls School District Finance & Facilities Director Chad Smurawa had some good news for district taxpayers at the annual electors meeting, held Sept. 19.

“We’re very proud to share that even with multiple headwinds like Covid, unstable state funding and economic concerns that you’re hearing about, we were able to balance our budget both last year and the budget that’s in front of you here for this year is balanced as well,” he said.

The district has received a AA rating from Standard & Poor and its mill rate is projected to drop from $7.87 per $1,000 in property valuation to $7.45.

“The mill rate is a calculated number that takes at look at two items,” Smurawa said. “The real estate property value within the confines of the district and the tax that we will be levying to operate our schools. If figures out what a resident will pay for every $1,000 worth of home value.”

River Falls is toward the bottom of the spectrum when it comes to area mill rates. Last year, surrounding districts’ mill rates were as follows: • Prescott – $10.22

• Hudson – $9.93

• New Richmond – $8.14

• Ellsworth – $8.07

• River Falls – $7.87

• Baldwin-Woodville $7.11 Electors voted to accept the 2022-2023 tax levy of $20,376,904, which the school board will vote on in October. Enrollment counts and state aid numbers should be finalized by that time.

School District Superintendent Jamie Benson said it’s critical for people to advocate the legislature to fully fund schools in the next biennial budget.

“We’ve used one-time federal funds to balance the budget,” he said. “They will be fully utilized and expended at the end of this school year.”

The electors also approved school board members’ salaries for the year, which are $3,200 for board members and $3,600 for the president, clerk and treasurer.

Before the voting, Benson provided electors with an overview on the district’s 2022-27 strategic plan, which the board adopted in June.

The district’s newly affirmed mission, he said, is to “inspire all students through challenging, meaningful and engaging learning experiences, in a safe and collaborative environment.” The vision, in partnership with families and the community, is to make SDRF an innovative PK12 grade educational leader committed to the academic, social, emotional and physical well-being of every student.

The district’s values include putting students first, making sure people know they matter, ensuring equity, treating others with respect, grounding actions in integrity, promoting excellence, inspiring innovation and providing transparent communication.

The district’s five main goals are:

• Hold high expectations for student learning

• Provide a safe, welcoming and healthy school environment • Attract, retain and develop high quality stau

• Provide life readiness skills

• Uphold operational excellence.

Benson spoke next of the challenges and opportunities the district will face in the next five years. A big one is mental health support for students. A Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated increased stress, anxiety and suicidal ideation in students, along with a lack of regional mental health therapists.

“We know where the needs are, but we can’t even at times find enough mental health therapists to support the needs of our students,” Benson said.

Another challenge will be financing the district’s operations while facing a $1.4 million “cliu” thanks to lack of a “normal round of funding” from the state legislature in the last budget, despite a $7 billion surplus. The revenue limits make hiring and retaining quality stau a challenge, coupled with the trend of fewer applicants.

And lastly, the district will evaluate its future facility needs which could result in a referendum to ask the community for support for any or all of these needs, as identified by the community in recent surveys and discussions:

• Space needs, maintenance, educational adequacy • School forest facility and road

• Additional gymnasium at Meyer Middle School

• Updated transportation center

• An indoor fieldhouse at the high school

• An outdoor stadium at the high school “The challenges and opportunities are endless, obviously, in our line of work,” Benson said. “But we are so grateful for the partnerships in this caring community. It’s a new day, a new year and I’ve got Covid in the rearview mirror. We know we have to be diligent. We have to keep our eye on Covid, but definitely at a diuerent place and time than in the last couple of years.”