High Plains School Board approves 2024-25 budget

The High Plains Community School Board approved its 2024-25 budget without incident during its regular meeting Monday night.
According to HPC Supt. Jason Brown, there were no changes to the budget from what was finalized during its Aug. 26 special meeting and put out for publication.
There is a substantial 13 percent property valuations increase from last year, going from a total of $910.2 million in 2023-24 to $1.025 billion for the upcoming year, making things a challenge for Brown and HPC.
“This is only going to get tougher with state aid going down next year,” Brown reminded the board.
The tax levy dropped by seven cents, down to 56.7 cents per $100 valuation, a 9 percent decrease in the tax rate while there’s a 6 percent increase in the operating budget, so the tax asking is higher. 
The total tax request sits at $5.811 million, up slightly from a year ago, but coming up short of the magic number where HPC would have needed to send out the pink postcards. 
There was no input from the Storm community and the budget passed unanimously. 
During the regular meeting, the board was addressed by Gage Friesen and Haden Helgoth, two members of the HPC Student Council. Members of the council are required to attend at least one board meeting and share updates within the school.
HPC student council projects for the school year include highway clean up on Road C between Roads 124 and 126, while also helping with community clean-up in Polk.
The council also provides cake or brownie mix for students during their birthday month. For those with birthdays during the summer months, they are given mix on their half birthday. 
The council also pushes out “Thank You grams” to teachers twice a year and they’re also looking to possibly start a survey for teacher of the month recognition.
During his report, 7-12 Principal Micah Fisher reported HPC has 21 students enrolled in 40 different dual credit classes through Central Community College. 
“We always take great pride in our college and career readiness,” Fisher said.
He also reported that HPC students will be participating in the York Public Schools Career Fair Sept. 17, with 41 colleges or universities present. 
During Brown’s superintendent report, he shared with the board that there have been discussions with the nutrition program. With changes in staff, federal guidelines and budgeting plans, portion sizes have come under the radar.
Brown and Elementary Principal Bre Helgoth met with its kitchen staff about finding the right ways to best meet the needs of HPC and its student body. “We need to increase the food portions,” Brown said. “For some of our kids, breakfast and lunch are the best meals of the day. We don’t want our kids to be hungry.”
Brown also shared that a roof study at the Clarks site was done in late August, but he hasn’t seen the results of that study. 
HPC’s board voted at its last regular meeting to have the roof study done to see what action steps can be taken moving forward with the roof project. 
Brown also wants HPC to get into a rotation with upgrading its computers for teachers and staff, instead of upgrading them all at once. 
“It will be a yearly thing, but then not nearly as expensive,” he said. 
The only action item on the adgena was to approve the 2024-25 budget, which was done via 5-0 vote.