Hall High School anticipates slight property tax decrease

District sees increase in home sales

Hall High School

Hall High School is anticipating passing a slight decrease in its portion of the property tax bill.

The 2021 tentative tax levy was discussed during Wednesday night’s Hall board meeting.

Superintendent Jesse Brandt told the board there is a 5.8% increase in the Equalized Assessed Value because of increased home sales in the area. The levy will be approved in December.

“The good news is that taxpayers should see a slight decrease in their tax rate again this year,” Brandt said.

2021 school report card data

Principal Adam Meyer shared data concerning the number of ninth grade students on track for graduation, the number of students taking early college courses and the graduation rate.

The number of ninth grade students on track for graduation is 69%, which is lower than in previous years. Any ninth grade student that did not pass a core class is automatically put into this group.

Meyer explained many of the students that did not pass a core class last year because of remote learning and the pandemic took a credit recovery class last spring or attended summer school. Many of the students have been caught up and are back on track. The number on the report card does not reflect this, Meyer said.

The number of students taking college courses also was down significantly.

“Many students did not want the added stress of taking college classes while on remote learning plus our dual credit classes were not offered last year,” Meyers said. “This number will go right back up to where it was before.”

The graduation rate was 83%. which is lower than usual. Typically the graduation rate is in the upper 80s percentile.

In other news:

  • Architects visited Hall a few weeks ago to look at the area and discuss options for building the new auto mechanic building as was discussed during last month’s meeting. The architects will create several plans for the board to look at and decide which is the best fit for the district.
  • The board heard an update on Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance that is up for renewal on January 1. The original quote was for a 14% increase but has been decreased to approximately a 6% increase. Brandt explained that in the budget he always plans for a 5-10% increase so this will not affect the current budget.
  • About 10 Veterans attended this year’s Veteran’s Day program that was hosted indoors because of windy and wet conditions.
  • The Risk Management Plan for Fiscal Year 2022 was approved.
  • Weekly SHIELD COVID-19 testing began Nov. 18 — 165 students are signed up to be tested each week.
  • There have been 21 positive cases of COVID-19 this year, which includes students and staff.
  • Winter sports numbers are lower than in previous years with the exception of boy’s basketball, which saw a slight increase in participation.
  • The board accepted with regret the resignation of Nick Guerrini as head football coach.
  • The Hall Education Association donated $240 to the Hall Township Food Pantry.
  • The track program had signs made to recognize its past state champions. The signs will be hung on the fence surrounding the track.
  • The Spanish Department celebrated El Dia de los Muertos to learn about the culture and traditions of this holiday. Students enjoyed decorating sugar skulls, creating skeleton puppets in honor of a special person in their lives, decorating and sewing small sugar skull pillows, and building miniature altars in honor of someone special they have lost. The students enjoyed trying Pan de Muertos (Dead Bread) from a local bakery.
  • The next regularly scheduled meeting is set 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. in the Hall High School Library, 800 W. Erie St., Spring Valley.