The staff and students of District 241 are very appreciative of the support shown by our community through the approval of the levy referendum on Nov. 5.

The citizens of the Albert Lea Area School District have voted to provide additional funding that will maintain our programs for students and restore some of the areas that were affected by budget reductions this school year.

School staff, administration and the school board have begun the process of developing plans for the 2003-04 school year that will:

– Restore classes in math, science, social studies and English.

– Restore elective and exploratory classes at the middle school and high school, which will reduce the number of students that are forced to take study halls.

– Reduce class size for students in grades four through six.

– Return busing guidelines to the one-mile rule for elementary students.

– Restore the cross country and dance team programs.

– Allow the development of an all-day, every-day kindergarten program.

These plans will be developed, but we will also have a watchful eye on how this session of the Minnesota Legislature deals with public education funding.

All of our funding projections are based on historical increases in state revenues.

If state funding is much lower than expected, our plans will need to be adjusted.

Assuming current student enrollment, the approved levy will add about $2.25 million per year to our $28 million annual general fund budget.

A plus for our local tax payers is the fact than more than 42 percent of the approved operating levy ($935,312) will paid each year by the state.

Included in this amount is about $93,000 in equity aid that can only be received when a school district community demonstrates local effort by approving a levy referendum.

Schools are a significant factor in the growth and vitality of the community.

A community with good schools is a community with a future.

The Albert Lea Area Schools has a long tradition of educational excellence made possible by the extra support provided by our local residents.

Our school district is committed to providing quality education at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer.

Thank you for your support of the students that are growing and learning in the Albert Lea Area Schools.

David Prescott is the superintendent of the Albert Lea Area Schools.