Dieterich School Board Discusses Tax Swap Measure, Possible Annexation

Dieterich school board members were updated this week on a possible annexation of property and a county wide tax swap idea.

The tax swap would involve a majority of the voters in each school district in the county giving their approval to the idea.  Revenue from the tax could be used only for abatement of existing building bonds and for maintenance and construction of school buildings.  Dieterich Superintendent Cary Jackson said, if passed, the tax swap would reduce real estate taxes within the school district by approximately 14%.

Jackson also told the Board an annexation hearing is scheduled for October 28.  A family is wishing to annex property into the Dieterich district from a neighboring district.

Grade School Principal Kathy Pattenaude reported on progress on a Mentoring Program and a Homework Club.  Pattenaude said both programs are ready for implementation and will be active very soon.

High School Principal Kevin Haarman discussed with the Board a request from Dieterich Sportsbackers regarding baseball and softball field improvements.  The plan is to apply Turface to the infield areas on both diamonds over a four-year period.  The Board agreed to spend $500 per year toward the cost of materials.  Turface is designed to mix with existing soils on the skin parts of infields to improve their reliability and ability to bounce back from rains.

In other business, the Dieterich board approved an audit of the past fiscal year's books that showed the Equalized Assessed Value of the school district increased more than 5%.  The Board approved a district wellness policy that addresses good nutrition and physical activity of students in the district, and also accepted a donation from Niemerg's Steak House of $2,442.80 from Niemerg's Dine and Donate Program that benefitted the athletic programs of all six school districts in the county.

The Board discussed purchasing an activity bus or two and trading in three small boxes, but instead chose to explore the option of selling the three small buses without purchasing an activity bus.

Pattenaude and Haarman reported on activities planned next week for Red Ribbon Week, the Board approved requests from Cody McCollum and Ryan Repking to do their student teaching at Dieterich, and members heard that the Spring 2014 Community Celebration of Excellence Breakfast will be held in Dieterich next April 10.