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By MaryHelen Swanson
Reduced enrollment is the main contributing factor for a budget situation, in the Rush City School District, that Superintendent Vern Koepp considers worth watching in the 2008-2009 school year.
The preliminary budget that was reviewed last week showed projected revenues at $7,406,244 in the General Fund. Anticipated expenditures in that fund are $7,900,496.
According to Business Manager Laureen Frost, the decline in enrollment washes out the increase in revenue the district will see next year.
The district is looking at a loss of 20 students and Supt. Koepp projects a deficit for the coming year.
While the $200,000 for ball field creation will not be in the budget this coming year, it will be cancelled out by salary and benefit increases.
And while there will be one teacher and one paraprofessional less, that savings will be cancelled out by increased fuel and energy costs. The district is aware of a pending increase in electric charges in addition to the cost of fuels such as diesel. About one-fourth of the district’s fleet runs on diesel and the district used $5/gallon in figuring the budget for next year.
Supt. Koepp noted that site and facility improvements have been put on hold. Not a lot of money is put in the budget for this except for technology, he said. These are instructional improvements, he added.
In addition, the budget includes one van and one bus.
In summary, Koepp said, the district’s revenues and expenses look very similar.
Frost also noted that there will be no increase in the cost of meals this year, maybe in 09-10, she said.
In concluding the budget discussion, Supt. Koepp reminded the board members that this is a working document, adding that it is the best projection at this time.
He said it will be mandatory that the budget be closely monitored next year.
He said much depends on the economy and the enrollment. The October enrollment number will be important, Koepp said.
The board approved the preliminary budget with the agreement to watch it closely.
In other business, the school board approved a resolution conveying the Family Center property at Rush City Food Mall (formerly Kinger’s) to the city of Rush City.
In this transaction, the city will enter into a new lease for the office space at the Aquatic Center building (city hall) which was the old Rush City High School building. The old lease was dated April 24, 1998.
The city will now lease the space for 10 years at an increased rate and the school district will convey the mall property to the city.
The city will pay a fixed rent for the (city hall) office space of $23,700 per year or $1,975/month for the approximately 5,050 square feet.
The city has discussed using the mall property for a liquor store.
It was noted last week that the city would like to take possession of the property by July 1.
The Family Center programs, which include Early Childhood Family Education and preschool education, that have been running out of the mall building for the past 15 years, have been moved to the elementary school.
Space is being prepared for these programs in the round portion of the school building. And a playground suitable for the little children is being developed.
In the former lease with the city, the district was to have relinquished ownership of the city hall office space.
In the new lease, the school district will retain ownership of the building.
In other business, the school board:
• Agreed, following a serious discussion, not to impose fees on extra-curricular activities this coming year. It was noted that a fee of $10 will only raise about $5,000, not enough to cover the cost of the programs. Board member Folkema wanted to know if a fee would mean less student participation, noting that numbers are already down.
Board member Brian Anderson felt that parents would find the money if their children wanted to be in sports, etc.
Superintendent Koepp said there were no real answers. Other schools in the area have fees, he said, wondering if the numbers are down there too? Koepp said during these tough economic times, the district could give families a break.
They also talked about how a summer golf tournament, which includes alumni, raises over $10,000 for the extras in the sports programs.
And Koepp noted that a wrestling tournament helps raise funds for the extra-curricular programs, not just wrestling.
Anderson believed that imposing a fee would weed out the kids who may be in sports just because their friends are. That way the coaches will be able to better deal with kids who really want to be there, he said.
Board member Carol Cook was concerned that some kids might not have the opportunity if there was a fee. And the activity could mean a lot to them, she said.
Board member Scott Friday said they need to offer these activities without fees this year, adding the school district may be heading toward a fee system, but not now.
Following the discussion, there was no motion.
Supt. Koepp said without a motion, the district will continue to operate as it is now.
• Acknowledged the resignation of Pam Meissner with the presentation of a plaque. Supt. Koepp remarked that he saw the quality and passion she brought to her job. As much as she instills curiosity in her students, he said, he didn’t think she ever lost her own curiosity about learning. He said she was a great model to have worked with in the elementary school.
• Learned that the annual bus inspection went well at the end of the school year and overall all buses passed. One bus had to have some work on a steering wheel issue.
• Heard a report on the Tiger Club from elementary principal Melody Tenhoff. The program cares for children before and after school. Tenhoff will be monitoring the morning session as there were only two families involved this year. She noted that the summer program started June 4. She believed that one reason the program isn’t being used as much is because of the difficult economic times.
• Heard a report from Lori Nelson on the Gifted and Talented program, noting that 385 kids at the elementary school participated in enrichment programs this year.
• Accepted the bid of Hastings Co-op for milk; the bid of Federated Co-op for gasoline and diesel fuels; the bid of K.W. Construction for snow plowing.
• Accepted the resignation of George Horbacz, high school science teacher; hired Todd Geyer as Computer Support and Network Administration, doing a national background check as well as state because he is from out of state; hired Laura Rolf as the Extended Day Program coordinator. This year she was the assistant in that program and when the director left, Rolf took over and planned the summer program.
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