GIBBON — The Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) School Board unanimously approved the 2020 payable in 2021 property tax levy Monday.

Total 2020-2021 school district budget expenditures are $9,519,631. No public comments were made at the Truth in Taxation hearing.

Supt. Jeff Horton said school district voters approved a 10-year operating levy by a vote of 1,407 to 837 on Aug. 11, 2020 that generated $777,000 for the school district.

Horton said the general fund levy is based on student enrollment. He said the district’s ADM (Average Daily Membership) for 2019-2020 was 709.1 and that the 2020-2021 ADM is being calculated.

“Some families will move students in, some will move out. We have school choice,” Horton said.

“Some people told me all the students are leaving,” Horton said. “Our capture rate (percentage of students living in the school district that attend local schools) tells differently.”

The school board unanimously approved:

* A March 2022 band/choir trip to Florida.

* Accepted donations of $1,000 from the 3M Foundation for GFW High School, $500 from Jane and John Lebans for scholarships and $100 from Kelly Dalton, H&R Block for T-Bird Club toys and activities.

* Activities Director Rich Busse said in-person practices resume Jan. 4 under guidelines being detailed by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). How the post-season (playoffs) will operate and how many fans can attend games is being developed by the MSHSL.

* GFW ECSE teacher Sharon Fossum was presented with a plaque by Horton for her efforts to help families in need with the “Spirit of the Season” program she operates with help from administrative assistant Julie Elmer.

The program supplies families with food, quilts, pillows, school supplies, toys, mittens, hats, scarves and other necessities.

“We have many families without the basics,” said Fossum.

“It’s amazing what you do. This is a very exciting school recognition award,” Horton said to Fossum and Elmer.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nu

journal.com).