When all state aid payments are in, USD 257 will close its 2009-10 school year books with nearly $2.3 million in hand.
Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools, told board members Monday evening a state aid payment was expected Wednesday and the remainder by July 8. The state has been tardy with most state aid payments the past two years because of monthly revenue shortfalls.
The cash carryover to 2010-11, which starts Thursday, “is better than a year ago,” Neuenswander said, and word from Topeka is that state finances may be better in the months ahead.
“If revenue projections hold up we may get through next year without any additional cuts,” Neuenswander said.
The district has lost $1.2 million in budget authority through state aid cuts since September 2008 and anticipates losing about $250,000 next school year because of declining enrollment.
While cash on hand is substantial going into the new year, only about $110,000 of it is in funds meant to deal with daily operations of the district, the general and general supplemental, or local option budget, funds. Larger repositories are the capital outlay fund, $654,000, contingency reserve, $550,000, and bond and interest, $143,500. Also, the special education fund will contain $447,000, but that only resides in local coffers until it is transferred to the ANW Special Education Cooperative.
Capital outlay money may be spent for equipment and building maintenance and construction, as well as to meet such expenditures as the lease payment for use of Bowlus Fine Arts Center facilities, about $130,000 this year. Contingency reserve money is meant to deal with unforeseen expenditures beyond the scope of general fund money. Bond and interest money is restricted to debt service.
Neuenswander noted some capital outlay money could be spent to meet general fund obligations, such as bus purchases, to give more financial latitude to the general fund, but “we need to keep $300,000 to $350,000 there for emergencies.”
Preparation of the district’s 2010-11 budget will be done in the next few weeks and must be ready for a public hearing by mid-August.
Following a 50-minute executive session, board members approved raises of 20 cents an hour for classified employees — custodians, secretaries, food service personnel and paraprofessionals — and 2 percent for administrators. A 2.76 percent raise for certified personnel is pending approval by teachers.
Two vacancies also were filled. Jamie Newland was hired to teach kindergarten at Jefferson Elementary and Christina Boyers second grade at Lincoln Elementary.
Board members put off until their July 12 meeting a decision on what level to support Schools for Fair Funding. The consortium lobbies the Legislature for member districts and has announced it intends to file a lawsuit in an effort to force legislators to increase funding.
USD 257 board members’ decision will be whether to continue with the group as lobbyist at $2 per full-time equivalent student, at a cost of $2,540, and also support litigation at another $1.20 per FTE, an additional $1,524.
Board members agreed to have Insight Schools of Kansas, Olathe, provide physics instruction for Iola High students in 2010-11. All access to instruction will be through the Internet. Cost will be $325 per student for one semester, or $475 for a full year. Anticipated enrollment is 18 students.
MEETING AS Bowlus Fine Arts Center trustees, board members accepted a bid from Community National Bank to provide banking services for the Bowlus. CNB’s bid was one of two; Great Southern Bank also sought the account.
Sticking points were CNB’s history of being supportive of the Bowlus Center and its agreement to pledge a letter of credit to protect accounts of more than $250,000, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limit. CNB’s interest rate on checking account balances was slightly lower, but Bowlus Commission members allowed that was not a materially significant factor since checking account balances were kept at levels needed and excess money was invested elsewhere.
Trustees also were given a brief review of the initial meeting of the BFAC Planning Committee, which was reported in detail in last Friday’s Register.
“It was a positive meeting,” Neuenswander said, with emphasis on how the district can be successful with a fine arts programs and involve the Bowlus.
