Rush City school board says kids first

By MaryHelen Swanson
If you had some money to spend and you had choices, what would yours be in connection with the school your child attends?
Thatís sort of what the Rush City School Board members were talking about at a special meeting Oct. 3.
In preparing and reviewing financial statements, the school districtís administration noted the general fund will have a certain amount of money that could and probably should be used.
At least, thatís what the superintendent and the board members believe.
A healthy fund balance should have enough money for three months payrolls. And that is the case in Rush City schools. The monthly payroll is $600,000.
But too much discretionary money in the fund balance, many on the board believed, is not necessary.
Superintendent Tim Eklund led the meeting with words of caution. He was looking for suggestions for ways to spend additional dollars, if it was the desire of the board.
He noted that the district is well on track with the capital expenditure plan of several years ago. And he asked for priorities from the board members if they were to spend the additional money the district will have in its fund balance.
Without a doubt, the board chose classroom space for the students.
At the last regular board meeting, the hired architect said space for heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment was not included in the original square footage for the new elementary building. Adding it would mean elimination of four classrooms to keep within the 98,000 square foot limit. It will cost about $600,000 to add the classrooms back. Putting them back became number one priority.
Some other items looked at included a bus garage, at a cost of about $650,000, a softball and baseball complex, $90,000, a storage building, $85,000, track resurfacing, $90,000, and high school parking lot resurfacing, $80,000.
Board member John Bosman put classrooms first. A ball complex might come next, he said.
Board member Mark Moulton said he had to keep his promise to the taxpayers and deliver the classrooms. A transportation building is important, he said, but not above the class space.
Scott Tryon also went with classrooms as his first choice. Both Moulton and Tryon believed it was also good to keep a healthy fund balance.
Member Gwen Goretsas said the district must go with the classrooms and perhaps look at a bus garage. Paul Pasche said classrooms first and then the purchase of the Oczak land near the school property, another of the options that night.
Chairwoman Sue Turner said they had an obligation to build the best elementary school they can and classroom space was number one.
Summing the meeting up, Eklund said it was important to let the people know that the first obligation is in keeping the good staff and providing students with all the books and technical equipment they need for a good education. And to keep a healthy fund balance.
He listed priorities as classrooms first, bus/storage facility next and possibly checking into the ball complex and purchase of the Oczak property.
The elementary project construction manager expects a good bidding climate for the building project. If it is good enough, the district might be able to consider some of the other options for fund balance use.

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