The Elk Horn-Kimballton and Exira School District Boards of Education held their regular, separate meetings Monday. Superintendent of Schools Dean Schnoes said the EHK Board approved a $160,000 budget amendment for calendar year 2011-2012, and the 2012-2013 budget during their meeting, Monday afternoon. Schnoes said they also voted to increase the Driver’s Education fee for this Summer. He says the in-district fee went from $185 to $200, while the out-of-district fee increased from $290 to $300. Schnoes said a lot of that increase is attributed to the rising cost of fuel. The EHK Board also voted to hire Maria Ternus as the Business Manager for both the EHK and Exira Districts. She will begin training for the position Wednesday, and finish out the duties for the rest of the year.

Schnoes said the Exira School Board approved a decrease in the tax levy for the district, from 18.1% per thousand dollars valuation, to 16.38% per thousand. He says the higher land values allowed them to recoup tax dollars while at the same time lowering the tax rate. He says also, the Exira Board passed a resolution which is intended to move forward with the possibility of reorganization by July 1^st, 2014. Schnoes says the attorney will look the resolution over in preparation for presentation to the Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board during their next regular meeting.