Opt-out renewed in White Lake

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WHITE LAKE — The White Lake school board voted recently to renew its $200,000 opt-out for the next four years.

An opt-out means a local government has made a decision to opt out of state-imposed limits on annual property tax increases. An opt-out allows local governments to collect more taxes per year than the state limits would otherwise allow.

The people of the White Lake School District voted for a $200,000 opt-out in 2009, but so far it seems it won’t go to a vote this year.

“I haven’t heard anything in the community,” said Bob Schroeder, superintendent. “So I hope we can go without any vote.”

Residents in the White Lake School District have about two weeks left to file a petition with signatures from at least 5 percent of registered voters in the district to refer the issue to a vote.

Schroeder has taught at White Lake School for 20 years and has been superintendent for the last three years. He said the students typically score high on state tests and log ACT scores above the state average.

“We’re a very strong academic school and have been since I can remember,” he said. “Until we can’t provide a quality education, we will stay open.”

White Lake has the seventh-smallest enrollment among public schools in South Dakota, according to the South Dakota Department of Education. The district’s preschool through 12th grade enrollment this fall was 125 students.

In The Daily Republic’s circulation area, only Stickney has a smaller enrollment, with 124 students in preschool through 12th grade.

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