Cascade Courier - Your trusted local news source since 1910

The time of year is approaching again for Cascade School’s annual election. The 2024 annual election has two propositions that will appear on the ballot this year for the voters of our districts to vote on. The first is the trustee election. There will be two (2) seats open for election representing the Elementary District 3 & High School District B for a 3-year term. Individuals may file for election until March 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm. To file, the 2024 Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy must be completed and turned in to the election administrator, Karsen Floerchinger or election deputy, Angie Hastings. The form can be found on the school’s website. At this time, the district has not received any applications for candidacy.

The second proposition that will appear on the ballot will be to ask the voters to renew the Technology Levy that was originally passed in 2014 for fiscal year 2015, in the total annual amount of $150,000 between the Elementary and High School districts. The Technology Levy is a permissive voted levy, which means the voters must approve the levy and the maximum amount allowed to be levied annually, but the District may levy any amount up to the approved amount. This levy is authorized by §20-9-543, MCA for the purpose of purchasing, renting, repairing, and maintaining technological equipment and to provide technical training for district personnel. This levy has proven vital to our district over the past ten years, allowing us to make huge improvements and updates to our technological infrastructure and providing our students and staff with the tools and resources needed to excel in our current technology focused age. A few of the major improvements and uses of the Technology funds include providing our students and staff with 1:1 devices, updating all security cameras in and around the school, along with implementing other safety and security measures, upgrading the PA and sound systems throughout the school, replacing and updating all phones, contracting technology services through Schoolhouse IT, rewiring and updating the internet infrastructure throughout the school, as well as providing our teachers and students with programs and curriculum used everyday in the classrooms.

On average, the Technology Levy costs the taxpayers approximately $7.19 on a $100K house in the Elementary district and $8.11 on a $100K house in the High School district annually. Over the past few years, the district has made it a mission to be as conservative as possible with these funds and has been successful in doing so, creating a nice sized “savings” in the fund. If the voters should vote to renew the Technology Levy in both districts, we would adjust the yearly levy amount to accommodate the budgetary needs, which in turn would lower the taxpayer obligation. The district will be asking the voters to approve the renewal of the Technology Levy for an additional 10 years in the amount of $75,000 in both districts, for a total of $150,000 annually.

The annual School Election will take place on May 7th and will be conducted by mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed out Monday, April 22nd. Regular voter registration closes on Monday, April 8th. If you have any questions regarding filing for candidacy or on the Technology Levy, please feel free to contact Business Manager/Election Administrator Karsen Floerchinger at (406) 468-9383 x 104 or karsen.floerchinger@cascade.k12.mt.us. All election information and resource materials can also be found on the school’s webpage at https://www.cascade.k12.mt.us/District/3920-Elections.html.