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Hillman board discusses next step

HILLMAN — It has been a week since the Hillman Community Schools request for a sinking fund millage was rejected by voters at the polls and the board of education is now figuring out what the next step is going to be for the school district.

During the board’s meeting on Monday, discussion took place about going for the sinking fund millage again in the November general election. The board ultimately decided it will discuss the matter during its meeting on June 11 and make a final decision during its meeting on June 25. There will be no cost for the school district if the board decides to pursue the sinking fund millage again in November.

“I think that this loss will governize voters to say ‘OK, we need to get out and we need to be more proactive,'” board President Kelly Burwell said. “I definitely think you’ll see that at the polls and I hope we’ll have community support.”

Burwell said she was very disappointed by last week’s election results.

“To lose by seven votes was very disheartening and even the students were reacting,” she said. “Elementary students were coming home and saying ‘Mom, do you see the buckets in the gym that we have to play around?'”

Burwell said everybody was taking the election for granted and how close an election can be. Several board members said people didn’t go to the polls on May 8 because they didn’t think the election would be close.

“It was definitely a learning opportunity for the community that every vote does count,” Burwell said.

Trustee Craig Zimmer said Superintendent Carl Seiter and the school did a lot to give people information about the sinking fund millage.

In other business:

∫ the board approved a gasoline and diesel bid for the 2018-19 school year from Blarney Castle within the amount of retail minus six cents freight included and Hilltop with eight cents over rack freight included.

∫ the board approved a rubbish removal bid from Thunder Bay Sanitation with the cost for the 2018-19 school year at $4.50 per yard, 2019-20 at $4.60 per yard, and 2020-21 at $4.70 per yard.

∫ the board approved to accept a snow removal and sanding bid from Weiland Excavating & Snowplowing, LLC in the amount of $60 per year for the 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 school years.

Julie Goldberg can be reached via email at jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.

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