Cloquet school district taxes up in the air

While the tax levy for the city of Cloquet tax looks like it could grow by 11 percent in December, Cloquet school district levy numbers may actually decrease.

District business manager Candace Nelis told board members that right now, the school district tax levy could actually drop 1.3 percent. That could change.

“[The state] has been making changes to the levy every single day — sometimes they swing in multiple directions,” Nelis said. “So tonight I’m asking that the approval be at the maximum, so they can continue to make adjustments through the end of the month.”

As requested, Cloquet school board members voted unanimously Monday to set the initial certification of the levy at maximum. The final levy vote will come at the Truth in Taxation hearing set for Dec. 9.

Monday marked the last meeting of September, which is School Board Appreciation Month, and former superintendent and school board member Ken Scarbrough’s last Cloquet school board meeting. He and his wife are moving to Fargo in October.

“I don’t know that everybody always understands the level of commitment it is to be a board member, but it isn’t just these board meetings: it’s all of our committee meetings and the preparation and communication in between meetings,” Cary said. “It’s not a small task, so I want you to know from our community and especially myself, we appreciate all that you do.”

The board will discuss what it wants to do with the vacancy created by Scarbrough’s departure. He was slated to serve through December. His seat was up for election this November, along with two others on the board. Two people filed for election to the positions, with one write-in.

In other matters:

• School district nurse Sarah Ellena was recognized as the Minnesota 2024 School Nurse of the Year by the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota. The award will be presented at the organizations fall conference in November.

• The board also approved a new coaches’ handbook that outlines responsibilities and school district expectations, along with practical information for coaches.