Board OKs budget of $36 million

Jay Schools will advertise a 2013 budget totaling more than $36.7 million.
That’s 1.5 percent larger than the 2012 budget of $36,169,009.
“We’re putting together 18 months of forecasted spending and 18 months of forecasted revenues,” Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome told the board Monday night.
As outlined by DeRome and approved for advertising by the board, the budget calls for a general fund of $25,994,000 — with 96 percent of that amount coming from state revenues.
Funds supported primarily by local property taxes include a debt service fund of $3,958,131, a pension debt service fund of $982,083, a capital projects fund of $3,274,000, a transportation fund of $2,230,000, and a bus replacement fund of $276,000.
As advertised, the budget will have a total tax rate of $1.4683 per $100 of assessed valuation.
But DeRome noted the budget is likely to be cut by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and the rate is likely to drop sharply because the DLGF advised him to use a low figure for the county’s total assessed valuation.
After DLGF cuts and an adjustment for the actual assessed valuation, “I expect the advertised tax rate to fall,” said DeRome. “I can’t predict how much it will fall.”
The 2012 rate, for example, was advertised at $1.6887 but was actually $1.1034 after DLGF cuts and adjustments for assessed valuation.
DeRome said the budget should be slightly in the black at the end of 2013. “We are planning to live within our revenue, whatever that may be,” he said. “We’re maintaining that cash balance of about $3.1 million. … Why do we keep that balance? That helps you if the state ever has a hiccup (financially). … We’re really dependent on that state revenue.”
State support will be up by 1.8 percent or about $437,000, DeRome said. The state full-day kindergarten grant will also be larger next year, but an adjustment is on the horizon for the school corporation’s health insurance costs.
Under HEA 1260, school corporations are required to meet certain targets in their health insurance expenses. Jay Schools is now spending more on health care benefits than the state target and will have have to bring those numbers down.
“We don’t have a choice,” DeRome said. “But they don’t tell you how you’re supposed to do that.”
The budget reflects 26 more retirements (15 certified teaching staff and 11 support staff members). “We’ve actually had 69 retirements or resignations in the past two years,” said DeRome. As a result, staff members at the top of the pay scale have been replaced by those at the bottom of the scale.
DeRome and superintendent Tim Long noted that the school budgeting process has changed dramatically over the past several years due to changes in state law.
“The rules of the game have changed,” said Long, noting that regular increases in state funding have virtually disappeared.
“We’re all trying to learn the new process,” said DeRome, adding that this year the school corporation’s budget must also be submitted to the county for a non-binding review.
Advertising the proposed budget came on a 6-0 vote, with board member Beth Krieg absent. A budget hearing is set for the Aug. 20 board meeting with final adoption set for Sept. 19. The budget will then go to the DLGF for review and reduction.
Long noted that the first day for teachers is Friday, and the first day for students is Monday.
In other business, the board:
•Added staff member Lisa Evans to the list of those authorized to represent the school corporation in small claims court.
•Approved contracts for 40 bus drivers.
•Approved a rental agreement for use of the gym at West Jay Community Center at a cost of $7,110 a year — a 5 percent increase.
•Heard a presentation by John Jay Center executive director Cindy Cash and board president Brian Ison on the center’s ongoing partnership with the school corporation.
•Hired Erika Eason as a special education instructional assistant at Jay County High School, Don Roberts as a part-time custodian at East Elementary School, Jim Lugar as a part-time custodian at General Shanks Elementary School, Aaron Alexander as an elementary music teacher and assistant band director at JCHS, Michelle Keever as a technology instructional assistant at General Shanks and Judge Haynes Elementary School, Cassia Alberson as a seventh grade language arts and science teacher at East Jay Middle School, Kristy Ainsworth as a cook at East Jay, Andrew Sloniker as a choir/guard instructional assistant at East Jay and JCHS, Amy Welling as a Read 180 instructional assistant at East Jay, KyliAnn Kelso as a technology instructional assistant at Redkey, Westlawn, and Pennville elementaries, Hilda Disinger as a special education instructional assistant at JCHS, Amanda Hilty as an instructional assistant at General Shanks, Sarah Wenk as a dishwasher at East Jay, and Barbara Mullins as a cook at Westlawn.
•Approved contracting for services from Ashley Keuneke for behavioral therapy, Rehabilitative Services for occupational therapy, Emily Reynolds for occupational therapy, and Sarah Holmes for physical therapy.
•Accepted the resignations of Ashley Keuneke as a special education teacher at JCHS, Angela Flowers as a technology instructional assistant at Westlawn, Redkey, and Pennville, Cassandra Twibell as a Read 180 instructional assistant at East Jay, Leah Smith as a special education teacher at East Jay, and Eric Bowman as assistant band director at JCHS.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Joshua Stultz as assistant cross country coach at West Jay Middle School, Larry Stultz as cross country coach at West Jay, Cheree McCallister as cheerleader coach at West Jay, Kristen Selvey as assistant cheerleader coach at West Jay, Thomas Leonhard as assistant eighth grade football coach at East Jay, Danielle Platfoot as sixth grade volleyball coach at East Jay, and Sarah Ullom as cheerleading coach at East Jay.
•Approved a field trip by the JCHS volleyball team to a tournament in September at Franklin County Community High School.[[In-content Ad]]