The ISD 2142 school board finalized and approved language for November’s ballot at their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 11.
Voters within ISD 2142 will make two decisions during this year’s elections: first, to approve an operating referendum authorizing the district to raise tax and state aid revenue that will provide $3,160 per student; second, to allow for a $1,500,000 capital project levy. The operating referendum would result in a $73 tax increase for properties valued at $100,000, on top of a $17 increase to provide for capital projects. Both levies will stand for 10 years, though the operating levy could be revoked or reduced through proper legal process.
District residents would begin paying the new rates next year, with the levy first applied in 2026 and payable in 2027.
The operating referendum would raise nearly $6 million for the district, with 55% sourced from local taxpayers and the other 45% drawn from state aid through the Seasonal Recreation Property Tax Base Replacement Aid (STBRA) program.
The operating levy rate will be subject to an annual increase proportionate to the rate of inflation. Should it receive approval, ISD 2142 will eliminate the current board-approved levy that allows for $724 in revenue per pupil.
The capital project levy would fund technology, curriculum, software, hardware and student transportation vehicles.
Superintendent Brian Masterson additionally sought school board members’ preliminary opinions on a proposal to ban cellphones from the beginning of the school day to the end.
The proposal would strengthen the district’s current cellphone policy, which allows students to carry their phones and use them between classes.
Masterson said principals from St. Louis County and Mountain Iron-Buhl suggested the ban, which the district could pilot at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
Board chair Lynn Hilde and board member Ron Marinaro expressed support for the idea, while board member Jarrett Bundy said he would be in favor if school staff could enforce the rule.
Board member Chris Koivisto of Northeast Range said stricter phone use regulations could create additional stress for teachers, who would need to ensure students follow the policy in their classrooms.
“It would have to be enforced and everyone would have to be doing it,” Masterson said. “No policy is going to work if not everyone’s on board.”
Masterson said administrators would continue working on the policy and bring a proposal to the board in the near future.
In other business, the school board discontinued cheerleading at Cherry and Northwoods and tabled the cooperative hockey agreement with Hibbing Public Schools.
