Athens K-12 approves $3.6M tax levy for ‘24-25

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens Board of Education on Monday approved a total tax levy of $3.6 million with an $8.62 mil rate for the 2024-25 school year. The board also adopted the 2024-25 school district budget, which includes $1.2 million in additional money from the fouryear non-recurring operational referendum.

Athens School District received an additional $1.67 million from taxpayers in the 2023-24 school year and will receive an additional $1.2 million in each of the next three years until the referendum expires after the 2026-27 school year.

Beth Steinke, the district’s business office manager, said the district can now count Maple Grove Charter School students in its three-year rolling average enrollment to determine the amount of per pupil state aid it receives. She said the school district has 465 students in the 2024-25 school year, compared to 411 students when the school district acquired Maple Grove Charter School three years ago.

Steinke said the district’s property valuation increased by 6.7 percent to $419 million in the 2024-25 school year. She said the school district earned approximately $14,000 to pay for students open enrolling in the 2024-25 school year.

Other business

■ The board approved a five-year contract renewal with Rural Virtual Academy (RVA) in Medford.

■ Board members approved the following winter sports coaches: Derek Czech as a paid varsity boys basketball coach, Tony Schultz as a paid eighth grade boys basketball coach, Tom Schaer as a paid seventh grade boys basketball coach, Chad Ellenbecker as a paid varsity wrestling assistant coach, Dale Westfall as a volunteer varsity wrestling assistant coach, Dustin Dahlke and Justin Bloch as paid middle school wrestling coaches and Casey Connor as a volunteer wrestling coach.

■ The board approved a 15-year lease with the village of Athens to allow the village to use a water well on district property at a reduced rate of $1 per year.