The Rugby Public School District’s preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2020 was subject to a hearing Tuesday morning during a regular meeting of district’s Board of Education at the Rugby High School library.

With a taxable valuation over $26.6 million, the district will levy 82 mills, of which 60 will go toward the general fund; 12 to the district’s miscellaneous levy and 10 to the discretionary levy.

The district projects to accrue over $7.98 million in general fund revenues, over $2.36 million of which is expected to come from local sources; over $5.1 from state sources and $507,614.20 from federal sources.

The district is projected to incur over $8.1 million in general fund expenditures, over $1.64 million of which is expected for the district; over $2.64 million is expected for Ely Elementary; over $3.2 million is expected for the high school; $248,079.40 is expected for expenditures related to the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant; and $396,790.01 is expected for extracurricular activity expenditures. Net deficit from general fund activities will be $161,227.31.

Other actions

– The board discussed the possible addition of eSports to Rugby High School’s extracurricular activity offerings. Superintendent Mike McNeff shared results of a survey answered by 158 respondents (as of last Friday) across grade levels. Of the 158, 74 answered yes they would participate if the school sponsored eSports, 82 said “no” and two skipped the question. McNeff said he felt the timing for addition would not be right with the season starting in October. Board member Kris Blessum said she liked “the idea of waiting.” Board members Shane Livedalen and Brenda Heilman concurred, with the latter saying it would be “interesting to hear from administrators” of schools who took part in the eSports season.

– The board discussed a board retreat meeting plan and upcoming Strategic Planning meetings.

– The board approved updates to the district’s athletics uniform rotation plan and purchasing policies.

– The board approved the second reading of a policy stemming from an English Learner audit.

– The board approved the consent agenda, which included August meeting minutes, bills, financial statements and an outgoing tuition agreement with the TGU Towner school district.