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Arlee gets majority in tech levy recount

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ARLEE – One vote found in the General Election recount was all it took to put the majority in favor of the Arlee Elementary Technology Levy.

“We are waiting on the Secretary of State to finalize the results but as far as we know it passed,” said Francis Ryan, school network administrator. 

The morning after the election the tally was tied at 377. Provisional ballots were counted and the vote tied again. A recount passed the levy with 380 for and 379 against.

“One vote turned it our way,” Ryan said.

The Arlee School District put two levies on the ballot. The High School Levy at $23,000 passed on the first count. The Elementary Levy is for $53,000. Funds from the two levies will be pooled together once they are made available during the next school year. The levies are scheduled to be renewed each year for the next ten years with an estimated $42 in increased tax on a home valuing $100,000. 

Ryan plans to update the school’s aging technology system with the levied funds and maintain the school’s Chromebooks. 

“With the bulk of the money, we will upgrade the system,” Ryan said. “The first thing to do is to upgrade the backbone (control center) and get that solid. Then we want to add more wireless systems and upgrade the devices on a set rotation.”

Ryan is still considering additional possibilities for technology at the school.

“I’d also like to talk with the teachers and see what they need,” he said. “As far as research, so much of what the kids do is done on the Internet. We want the kids to have better access.”

The school decided to ask for a levy after it became apparent that there wasn’t enough money in the budget to cover the cost of maintaining the school’s technology. The school’s operating costs are covered by state funding. The amount each school receives is based on student enrollment. Low enrollment numbers in the high school left the school with a small budget.

“For three consecutive years, enrollment has been low in the high school,” District Clerk Lonnie Morin said. “There is no explanation for it. It fluctuates. I’ve seen it go really high and low. But because it was low, we asked for a levy. We want to be able to serve our kids and get them ready for college.” 

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