Nov. 7 is an important day for the Hastings Independent School District #200.

With the election Tuesday, voters will put four new candidates in office. School Board Chair Lisa Hedin, Vice Chair Stephanie Malm, Treasurer Brian Davis and Clerk Becky Beissel all decided against seeking re-election to the board.

Running for the four open seats on the board, in the order they appear on the ballot, are Matt Bruns, Jenny Wiederholt-Pine, Brandy Wentzler, Mariah Ring, Pamela J. Onnen, Matt Seeger, Melissa Millner, Philip Biermaier and Nancy Blanchard. The Hastings Journal invited each candidate to give a final “pitch” on why they deserve district resident’s votes. See page 6 for their submissions.

The other important matter at hand is the referendum question for approval of a capital project for technology seeking permission to levy an additional $2 million in taxes annually, starting in 2024, for 10 years.

The ballot measure reads, “The school board of Independent School District No. 200 (Hastings Public Schools) has proposed a capital project levy authorization of 3.593% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The revenue from the capital levy authorization will be used to provide funds for school district technology, including the acquisition, installation, replacement, support and maintenance of software, software licenses, computers, technology infrastructure and equipment, technology systems related to security and operations, and to pay the costs of technology related personnel and training.  The proposed capital project levy authorization will raise approximately $2,000,000 for taxes payable in 2024, the first year it is to be levied, and will be authorized for ten (10) years. The estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over that time period is approximately $20,000,000.”

The district has hosted information meetings in the last month on the technology measure. The district surveyed voters in the spring and a majority said they would support the new spending for technology needs.

According to the district, 64 percent of the levy dollars would be used for “student and staff learning devices and reliable access.”

“The levy would fund student devices, interactive classroom displays, classroom audio amplification, staff devices, digital classroom software, learning management systems, building level instructional technology support and infrastructure for reliable access,” according to the district.

With school security and cybersecurity being so important, 36 percent of the levy funds annually would be used to help in that area.

“Facility and online security are of utmost importance in today’s school environment,” district materials explaining the need for the levy state. “The tech levy would fund secured electronic door systems, facility and grounds surveillance, two-way radio communications systems, cyber security and student data privacy, annual insurance requirements and district-wide security software.”

The district says the levy will also help provide resources for the mental and emotional needs of students, as well as helping provide support for struggling students.