2022.Falls Pride Fall Magazine (9) - Flipbook - Page 3
FALLSSCHOOLS
POINTS OF PRIDE
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Menomonee Falls High School's
Career and Technical Education
takes hands-on learning to a new
level! Students learn about career
opportunities, apprenticeships, and
employment opportunities available
in high school, along with hands-on
activities. We have students working for local home
builders, tool and die manufacturers, and automotive
repair facilities. Our students are learning skills in highdemand fields. We continually stress the current demand
and career potential in all skilled trades, raising awareness
for students and parents that you do not have to attend a
four-year college to be successful. Manufacturing and the
building trades offer many family-supporting careers that
can start right after high school graduation.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Focus on the Falls is a monthly
broadcast of Falls Cable Access
featuring Superintendent Corey
Golla, and hosted by John Mercure,
Falls Schools Friend of Education
and Milwaukee broadcast
personality.
Focus on the Falls goes in-depth about Falls Schools
academics, arts, athletics and activities including:
Early Literacy
Disability & Special Education Resources
Tax Bill, Budget & Finance
DPI State Report Card
..and much more
FINANCE &
BUDGET
We're working hard to be more efficient while offering quality educational choices for
children. Our fund balance is healthy, our bond rating is high, and our school board is
dedicated to students along with being responsible stewards of community funds.
School funding can be complicated and, for many, a topic not easily understood. A
school district's budget isn't as simple as a personal budget, but some parallels exist.
Let's take a look at how school funding works: Revenue is the amount of money a
district brings in. This includes money from local property taxes, state funds, federal
funds, and additional fundraising. For the 2021-22 through 2023-24 school years, the
district uses the one-time federal COVID-relief funds to stabilize the budget as there
is no new state revenue authority.
Expenditures are where the district spends money. Overwhelmingly, we spend heavily
in the classroom, supporting student learning. We are closely watching costs in all
areas as the most recent inflation rate exceeds 7% from this time last year. The
school board and leadership work to balance revenue and expenditures each year.
Simply put, they work to balance the budget.
Once the annual budget is finalized in October, budget priorities for the next year are
set in January through March, and the budget is worked on throughout the school
year. When a budget is near completion, a tax levy is set. The levy is the budget
amount that goes to the local taxpayer for funding. The main reason property taxes
increase is because of decreases in state funding. The opposite is also true as it is for
the current 2021-22 tax levy.
From there, a mill rate is set. The mill rate gives a property owner a dollar amount per
$1,000 of property value for tax calculation. For the 2021-2022 school year, the mill
rate is $8.22. To calculate the school tax for a $250,000 home, it would be $8.22 X
250 = $2,059.29. That's a 13.9% decrease over last year's tax rate! Again, the main
reason for this decrease is the state budget appropriated additional funds as State
Aid. While State Aid does not provide any additional spendable revenue, it does
decrease the local tax levy.
For a full list of episodes, visit
fallsschools.org/ourstory/newsor scan the
QR code with your cell phone.
Though cold days may still surround
us, we are dreaming of warmer days
ahead. Our Falls Summer Academy
team is deep in planning for our
summer 2022 programming. Mark
your calendars for important
upcoming dates!
End of March - CE&Rec Spring Catalog (which contains all
of the Falls Summer Academy course information and
schedules) will be available on the CE&Rec website.
Early April - CE&Rec Spring Catalog will be mailed to
Menomonee Falls residents.
April 18, 2022 - Falls Summer Academy online registration
opens at 9 p.m.
April 19, 2022 - Falls Summer Academy in-person
registration opens in the CE&Rec office.
June 20-July 1, 2022 - Falls Summer Academy Session 1
July 11-July 22, 2022 - Falls Summer Academy Session 2
2022 Falls Summer Academy Sites:
Shady Lane Elementary - 4-year-old kindergarten
through 2nd grade
Valley View Elementary - 3rd grade through 5th grade
North Middle School - 6th grade through 8th grade
Menomonee Falls High School - 9th grade through 12th
grade
13.9%
tax rate decrease
$321
reduced property
taxes on a
$250,000 home
$2.6M
increase to state
aid
$2.5M
decrease to total
tax levy
Open your cell phone camera and scan the QR code
for more finance & budget information
CE & REC PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
The School District of Menomonee Falls Community Education
and Recreation offers a preschool program for 3-year-olds at
Ben Franklin and Shady Lane schools that follows the 4K schoolyear calendar.
Staff will challenge students to reach their potential while
providing an environment balanced between recreation,
socialization, and education. We believe in an inclusive preschool model where
children are unique, creative individuals that can influence their learning. The playbased program allows children to develop social and emotional language and motor
and play skills by playing with peers, completing projects, having a snack, and learning
how they can play an essential role within a group. The program offers
Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday options. For more information, visit fallsrec.org.
FALLSPRIDE | SPRING 2022
SUMMER!