School Board Calls for Special Election on Technology Levy

At a meeting on Jan. 23, the Inver Grove Heights Community School Board unanimously approved a resolution relating to a capital project levy authorization and called for a special election.

The levy, which would fund $7 million in technology software, support and maintenance, appeared on the ballot last November and failed by less than 200 votes. The special election will take place March 27.

“That’s our kids’ future,” said Cindy Nordstrom, chair of the board. “The need has not gone away. We still have the need and we’re still going to be asking the same question. And we’ll again listen to whatever the voters put out there for us, but we’re going to try to inform them of the need and why we continue to need it.”

If the levy passes, it will raise approximately $700,000 for taxes in 2013 and will be authorized to continue for ten years. The implementation of technology programming will begin no later than spring 2017.

“Technology is ever-changing. We know it’s transforming the way the educational system is being used right now,” said board member Mark Westpfahl. “Putting this one out specifically and solely for technology to the public gives the public a better chance to vet us, vet technology.”

Currently, the district’s technology spending comes out of the general fund, according to Johnny Germscheid, the district communications coordinator. The district’s projected technology costs for the 2011-2012 school year are just over $1 million. 

At present, district funds designated for technology are spent on equipment replacements, maintenance, licensing, upgrades and TIES applications, such as administrative software, information systems, webpages and hosting.

To learn more about the district’s technology use, visit the Inver Grove Heights Community Schools website.