Budget hearing held

A 2013 Jay Schools budget totaling more than $36.7 million drew no comment from the public at a hearing Monday.
Jay School Board members are scheduled to vote on adoption of the spending plan on Sept. 17. It will then go to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance for review and revision.
The proposed budget represents a 1.5 percent increase over the current year.
The advertised 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 after DLGF cuts and an adjustment for the actual assessed valuation, the rate is expected to drop sharply.
The 2012 rate, for example, was advertised at $1.6887 but was actually $1.1034 after DLGF cuts and adjustments for assessed valuation.
Superintendent Tim Long said Monday the new school year is underway smoothly. “It’s been a busy month,” said Long. “I think we’re having a great start to the school year so far. … We’re trying to get a handle on our enrollment. It’s down a little bit.”
Accurate enrollment figures are expected next month.
Board members gave unanimous approval to a Title I grant application seeking $944,043.28 in federal funding for the 2012-2013 school year. Those funds are targeted for improving instruction for reading and math, teaching English as a second language, classroom materials, and professional development.
If approved, the grant would be divided between Jay Schools, the Jay County Christian Academy, and the Youth Service Bureau. Jay Schools would receive $906,116.91, the Christian academy $29,140.03, and YSB $8,786.34.
In other business:
•Long told the board that drillers are on site at West Jay Middle School to create the closed loop vertical field for the school’s new geo-thermal system. Business manager Brad DeRome noted the system will not involve drilling wells that would affect the Dunkirk water supply.
•The board hired Holly Faulkner as a part-time instructional assistant at Westlawn Elementary School, Valerie Reynolds as a cook at Bloomfield Elementary School, Sarah Jennings as a special education teacher at Jay County High School, Amanda Smith as an instructional assistant at JCHS, Judy Newsome as a food service employee at West Jay, Sharlee Landers as an instructional assistant at East Jay Middle School, Ed Bennett as a part-time math teacher for the first semester at JCHSs, Susan Denney as choir teacher at East Jay, and Shannon Current as a secretary for the school corporation.
•Board members approved several policy changes through a first reading to bring them into compliance with a variety of changes in state law.
•Long noted that his evaluation by the board will take place in an executive session in September.
•Use of “Let’s Talk Politics,” an election year educational piece developed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, was approved for use in Jay classrooms.
•Resignations were accepted from Andrew Sloniker as a choir teacher at East Jay, Nick Ehrhart as an instructional assistant at East Jay, Matt Wilburn as an instructional assistant at JCHS, and Linda Leonhard as special education secretary.
•A leave of absence was approved for Bloomfield second grade teacher Amy Fullenkamp.
•Extra-curricular assignments were approved for James Roberts as Just Say No sponsor at Westlawn, Holly Patz as junior varsity softball coach at JCHS, Tonya McCoy as assistant gymnastics coach at JCHS, Lora Schlosser as head gymnastics coach at JCHS, Danielle Platfoot as seventh grade volleyball coach at East Jay, Abby Champ as athletic director at West Jay, Chelsea Guggenbiller as sixth grade girls’ volleyball coach at West Jay, Andrea Shawver as sixth grade girls’ volleyball coach at West Jay, Lisa Morgan as academic coordinator at West Jay, and Giles Laux as boys’ basketball coach at Bloomfield.
•Extra-curricular resignations were accepted from Danielle Platfoot as sixth grade volleyball coach at East Jay, Landon Martin as fifth grade boys’ basketball coach at Westlawn, and Brittany Bridges as Earth Watch adviser at JCHS.
•Meeting dates for the coming year were set for Sept. 17, Oct. 22, Nov. 19, Dec. 10, Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 11, April 22, May 20, June 10, July 22, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, and Dec. 16. All meetings are at 6 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]