CLAFLIN — The USD 112 Board of Education approved the 2023-24 budget during a hearing held prior to the regular meeting on Monday evening.

“After redoing the budget, we reduced it 2.167 mills,” Interim Superintendent Bill Lowry said. “So, I’m recommending we do not exceed revenue neutral. We don’t have to do that to beat our budget that we have proposed.”

The proposed budget shows that reduction in comparison to the published budget. Since valuations went up, the mill levy can be reduced in order to raise the same amount of funds. In October, the county clerk will assess the levy and make adjustments.

“If we did not have this hearing and the county clerk miscalculated the evaluation,” Lowry said, “she would not be able to raise the mill levy to produce the dollars needed for the budget.”

Sept. 20 will be count day. Currently, numbers show 10 seniors, 26 juniors, 24 sophomores and 27 freshmen, for a total of 87 students. Last year, the total was 83 at count time.

The state takes the top four grades for classification, which should make it 1A. At the middle school, current counts show 31 eighth graders and 19 seventh graders, with a total of 137, which is down two from last year.

Wilson Elementary numbers show 80 students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Lakeside Learning has 13 students enrolled at this time.

In addition, attorney John Sherman is obtaining population information to assess the population for each board position and will recommend any changes for each board position.

Homecoming will be Sept. 22, with the parade at 2:30 p.m., pep rally at the football field at 3 p.m. and crowning at 6:30 p.m.