Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Only slight changes needed due to population shifts
The new director district boundaries were drawn based on the results of the 2020 Census.
Director district boundaries in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School will be slightly different as a result of minor population shifts within its territory.
A new director district map approved on Monday was developed to bring H-M-S into compliance with allowable variations in population. The changes will not alter the composition of the school board and only required modest adjustments.
"Nobody is living in the wrong [director] district, but there were some minor tweaks," said Superintendent Patrick Carlin.
Based on the 2020 census, the district's total population is 4,464 residents. With all five board members elected to represent director districts, the ideal population of each is 892.8. The maximum allowable variation from the ideal population is 89.28 residents.
Carlin explained the boundary adjustments that were needed to comply with the maximum variation. Total populations and variations from the ideal population for each director district are as follows:
Director District 1 (City of Sanborn): Population 916, Variation +23.2.
Director District 2 (North and west sides of Hartley): Population 839, Variation -53.8.
Director District 3 (West area): Population 928, Variation +35.2.
Director District 4 (Northeast area): Population 881, Variation -11.8.
Director District 5: (Southeast area/east side of Hartley): Population 900, Variation +7.2.
Eliminating director districts and having all board members elected at-large was not considered a possibility during the redistricting process.
"The district could go at-large so we would not have to mess with this, but because of the district's makeup it makes sense to keep what we have," Carlin noted.
The adjusted director district boundaries will remain in place until after the next decennial census in 2030.
• Lower tax rate in FY24
The budget for 2023-24 calls for a slight reduction in the proposed property tax rate. According to discussion, the current levy rate is $12.94 while the rate for the fiscal year beginning on July 1 is expected to be $12.86.
Carlin noted that H-M-S's tax rate was $13.29 after the bond issue passed, and has gradually declined since then.
During a review of the budget, Carlin explained that "enrollment matters" in determining revenue amounts, especially for the general fund. With a loss of only one student in the certified enrollment, H-M-S will have a net increase in state aid next year.
Indicators of H-M-S's financial health are good. Carlin said the solvency ratio is 20 percent, which is higher than the recommended range of 15-20 percent.
• Waive one snow day
Anticipating that H-M-S will finish the school year with more than enough student hours, Carlin recommended that one snow day be waived. He estimates H-M-S will have 1,098 hours for the year, which is above the minimum requirement of 1,080.
With the waiver, the final day of classes will be Friday, May 26 and will not require students to return after the Memorial Day weekend. Carlin said he took into account the impact not waiving the snow day might have on families following the holiday, as well as the learning environment for that day.
