The mill rate will be more than a mill increase after keeping the mill rate flat in recent years. The proposed rate is 60.944, up from the current rate of 59.778.

Board President Justin Sturgeon said various factors led to the increase.

“We’ve done a really good job of keeping mill levy flat or even down slightly,” Sturgeon said at Monday’s regular meeting. “Certainly I’m an advocate for keeping it flat and being a good fiduciary of our taxpayer dollars. I know we’ve had challenges in special education and other places, such as surprises with the (special education) co-op and the state as our bond aid continues to go down.”

Sturgeon went on to say that the district didn’t seem have a lot of options other than to have the rate go up slightly.

“We’ve talked about general belt tightening over the year to build up cash balances,” he said.

The notice for publication was approved, 5-0, with Board Members Stephanie Shupe and Evan Dean absent from the meeting. Dean was unable to attend the regular meeting, but was able to arrive before the executive session, which took place after the budget hearing vote.

Patrons can address the school board about the proposed budget during a hearing at the next regular meeting at the administrative center. The hearing will begin shortly after the start of the meeting. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. and the hearing will start at 6:10 p.m. Sept. 8.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a driver’s education car purchase for $40,732 from Dale Willey Automotive, Lawrence for a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse LS. Another bid came from McCarthy Chevrolet, Olathe, for $42,655.

• Approved a negotiated agreement with the Tonganoxie Education Association for certified employees for 2025-26.

• Met in executive session for a total of 45 minutes. After coming out of executive session, the board approved, 6-0, salary adjustments for classified staff, administrators and coordinators as presented.

Summer projects complete; others nearly finished

USD 464 facilities manager Mitch Loomis gave an update on summer projects during Monday’s regular meeting.

He said the Tonganoxie Middle School parking lot resurfacing has been completed, as have HVAC installations in the high school career and technical education wing and at TMS.

In addition, track restriping at Beatty Field was completed this past weekend and Loomis is “really, really pleased with how that turned out.”

The roof at TMS was planned to be completed by Tuesday, “but rain has thrown a pretty big wrench in that,” Loomis said.

He noted that it should be finished next week.

The TMS HVAC installation is almost complete, while TMS also is getting a new floor scrubbing machine. The scrubber has a seat and is driven instead of pushed. Board members approved the purchase, 5-0, from Hillyard in Kansas City, Missouri, for the Trident floor scrubber for $21,644.

“I know our people really appreciate the opportunity,” Loomis said.

TRC gymnasium anticipated re-opening is next week

The Tonganoxie Recreation Center inside the USD 464 Administrative Center soon will have its gymnasium fully operational. Loomis said the gymnasium floor should be released back to the public next Wednesday, Aug. 20.

“We’re about a week away from turning pickle ballers loose on that,” Loomis said.

Personnel moves OK’d

Tonganoxie school board members approved contracts, resignations and transfers at Monday’s regular meeting.

Contract/work agreements were approved for: Whitney Coffey and Corinne Morgan, Tonganoxie Elementary School paraprofessionals; Cindy Wiedenmann, student nutrition; Amanda Burch, Sarah Weaver and Lillian Mitchell, student nutrition; Susan WEston, TES special education paraprofessional; Brian Murakami, Tonganoxie Middle School seventh-grade head football coach; Daniel Meyers, Tonganoxie High School custodian; Craig Martin, THS business teacher; John Tollefson, THS head cross country coach; Mike Eckert, THS assistant girls basketball coach; Gad Huseman, THS assistant wrestling coach; Brian Murakami, TMS head football coach; Jaime Fahlgren, Esports head coach; Jessica Monroe, Esports assistant coach; Craig Martin, Future Business Leaders of America head sponsor; and Jaime Fahlgren, FBLA assistant sponsor.

Resignations were accepted from: Patricia Matone, TMS student nutrition; Sydney Noe, THS head cheer coach; Laci Douglas, TES paraprofessional; Austin Eckert, TMS assistant football coach; Nick Johnson, THS business teacher, THS assistant boys basketball coach, TMS head football coach and THS FBLA; Kimberly Nemchik, TMS student nutrition; Valerie Phoenix, THS CNA paraprofessional; Preston Troyer, THS head track coach; Cherry Mastro, student nutrition; Nicole Snider, THS assistant softball coach; Nancy Norris, THS special education paraprofessional; and Amanda Meyers, TES lunch aide.

Transfers were approved for: Krystal Temple, THS assistant cheer coach to THS head cheer coach; Ginny Reischman, from TMS head volleyball coach to THS assistant volleyball coach; and Emily Clevenger, TMS assistant volleyball to TMS head volleyball coach.

USD 464 retiring vehicles

Tonganoxie school district has two buses it will be retiring.

Bus No. 46 is a 2003 Thomas Bus, as is Bus No. 48 in the district’s fleet. Tonganoxie USD 464 recently purchased two new buses with a Clean Air Grant. Per grant guidelines, the two 2003 Thomas buses must be retired.

The maintenance department also has a 2003 Dodge Caravan that is beyond repair. School board members approved the department’s request to have the van scrapped.

District receives more donationsUSD 464 school board approves slight 25-26 budget

increase

The school board received an update on the latest donations to the district.

USD 464 received two donations since the last meeting: $13,000 for a Tonganoxie Middle School Lead for Change grant from David Novak Leadership, Inc.; and $27,078 in Chieftain Card donations from First State Bank and Trust.

A presenation of the Chieftain Card check will take place during the Tongie Tailgate on Aug. 22.