Funding to change

The state of Indiana is watching every penny when it comes to public schools.
State support for the general fund has long been tied to a school corporation’s enrollment, but beginning this year that connection will be tighter than ever.
“The game’s changing,” superintendent Tim Long told the Jay School Board Monday.
Business manager Brad DeRome explained that in the past, the school corporation’s state basic grant would be reduced in January if September enrollment dropped.
Under new state rules, any change in September enrollment would be reflected in the state basic grant in November.
In addition, the state has established a February enrollment count date and will reduce the grant further if enrollment has dropped because of early graduations.
“Those are new variables,” said DeRome, noting that enrollment dropped by 138 students from the 2011-12 school year to 2012-2013.
“It is an ever-changing financial picture,” added Long.
DeRome also outlined a preliminary capital projects fund budget for 2014 in advance of next month’s budget process. He noted that prior commitments — including payments for heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects at East, Redkey and Westlawn elementaries and West Jay Middle School — account for about half of the proposed $3.4 million in capital projects.
Other potential capital projects include an investment of $444,000 more in technology, renovations of the east locker room at Jay County High School, a new gym roof at Pennville Elementary School and a new roof section above the boiler room at JCHS.
The current year’s capital projects budget was approved by the Department of Local Government Finance at $3,273,000
”I’m trying to be conservative as I look forward on capital projects,” said DeRome.
The board approved DeRome’s recommendation of a five-year contract with Coca-Cola Enterprises of Fort Wayne as the school corporation’s soft drink vendor.
Coca-Cola offered to pay $5,000 per year in royalty fees, $1,468 per year in rebates and a 30-percent commission, in addition to providing 100 free cases of soft drinks per year. The total amount coming to the school corporation was estimated at $55,808 over five years.
Canteen Vending, Muncie, which is the current snack machine vendor, submitted a proposal that would generate an estimated $18,000 over five years.
Approval came on a 6-0 vote, with board member Larry Paxson absent.
In other business, the board:
•Approved textbook rental fees for JCHS for the coming year. (A complete list of school textbook rental fees will appear in The Commercial Review later this week.)
•Agreed to sign a letter of intent to donate land along the south side of the Salamonie River near East Elementary School for a trail project being pursued by the Jay County Trails Club and the city of Portland. Approval was pending review by the school corporation’s attorney.
•Heard superintendent Tim Long report Jay Schools will participate in the Jobs for American Graduates program with WorkOne in conjunction with the JCHS Annex at John Jay Center for Learning. Long noted the annex has had a significant effect on boosting high school graduation rates. “We’re hovering right now at about 94 percent on our graduation rate,” Long said.
•Received a draft of a school safety report for review. “We’ll discuss that probably — as the law allows — in an executive session,” Long said.
•Hired Amber Detro as a social studies teacher at West Jay, Jeff Heller as a third grade teacher at Judge Haynes Elementary School, Catherine Berno as a special education teacher at Judge Haynes, Melinda McWilliams as a custodian at East Jay Middle School, Karen Nichols as a half-time teacher at Westlawn, Dennis Dwiggins and Ted Habegger as driver education teachers at JCHS, Kari Brotherton as an instructional assistant, Brittany Muhlenkamp as an instructional assistant, Jim Nichols as part-time custodian at West Jay, Liz Dennison as school psychologist, Lindsay Edwards as part-time art teacher at West Jay, Dolphus Stephens as a temporary English teacher at JCHS and Whitney Gray as a preschool instructional assistant.
•Approved the transfers of Danielle Platfoot as a special education teacher at General Shanks Elementary School, Holly Faulkner as a second grade teacher at Judge Haynes, Amanda Hilty as a preschool instructional assistant and Travis Younts as a custodian at Judge Haynes.
•Contracted with Sarah Holmes for physical therapy services through the 2013-2014 school year.
•Approved the retirement of Mildred Harter as custodian at Judge Haynes.
•Accepted the resignations of Jenee Goldberg as school psychologist, Michelle Alley as a second grade teacher at Judge Haynes, Colleen Linehan as half-time art teacher at West Jay, Aaron Alexander as assistant band director and music teacher and Landon Martin as a physical education teacher at East Jay.
•Approved leaves of absence for JCHS English teacher Krista Muhlenkamp and Bloomfield Elementary School first grade teacher Chandra Dawson.
•Accepted the extra-curricular resignation of James Myers as eighth grade football coach at West Jay.
•Approved extra-curricular assignments for Alison Harmon as cheer sponsor at Bloomfield, Bill Black as seventh grade assistant football coach at West Jay, Justin Simos as eighth grade football coach at West Jay, Paul Scott as eighth grade assistant football coach at West Jay, Larry Stultz as cross country coach and boys’ eighth grade basketball coach at West Jay, Cheree McCallister as cheer coach at West Jay, Kristen Selvey as cheer coach at West Jay and Greg Garringer as boys track coach and assistant wrestling coach at JCHS.
•Approved a field trip by summer agriculture students to the Indiana FFA Leadership Center.
•Approved bus requests by the Immaculate Conception Catholic Youth Organization and the Girl Scouts.[[In-content Ad]]