SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Public School Board unanimously certified a 1.68% ($17,044.91) 2025 levy increase Wednesday.

The hike boosted the total levy from $1,013,293 payable 2024 to $1,030,338 payable 2025. Approval came on a motion by board member Brian Nelson, seconded by Adam Barka.

School Finance Director Amanda Boomgarden said the school district’s long-term facilities (bonding) debt has expired, helping reduce the payable 2025 levy. The payable 2024 bonding debt payment was $21,780.

Other items unanimously approved include high school gym floor replacement in spring 2026 by FLR Sanders Inc. at the $186,500 state bid price. Approved donations were $1,000 from the Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club to support athletics and arts programs and $500 from the Charities Aid Foundation for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Elementary Title One (supporting students in low-income families) Director Samantha Whittington presenting the 2023-24 World’s Best Workforce report. A goal met was the percentage of free/reduced lunch students in all grades tested that are proficient on the state reading accountability test rose from 31% in 2023 to 40% in 2024.

Unmet goals included 52% of 2023-24 Pre-K students in the four-year-old program identified 75% of letters by May 2024. The percentage of non-free/reduced lunch students testing proficient on the state reading test in 2024 increased to 50.8%. The goal was 52%.

A goal of 42% of all 8th-grade students meeting or exceeding the state math test in 2024 was not met, with 14.3% of all 8th-graders meeting or exceeding the state math accountability test.

A goal of 44% of all 8th-grade students meeting or exceeding the state reading accountability test was not met, with 38.1% of 8th-graders meeting or exceeding the accountability test.

A goal of 100% of all senior students graduating in 2024 was not met, with 97.7% of seniors graduating last May.

Outgoing board member Sandy Gonzalez was thanked for her four years of service.

“It was a great experience for me. Thank you,” said Gonzalez.

Dan Marti was elected last fall to take her school board seat in 2025.