Restrictions on rainy day funds lifted

With major cuts for next year looming over Jay Schools, the school board has removed restrictions on its rainy day fund to cover personnel and a long list of other potential expenses.

The board approved adding language to the rainy day fund resolution Monday to state the funds may also be used for "the additional uses for purposes of retaining personnel, and any other uses that the board deems necessary."

The rainy day fund had previously been to pay transportation expenses, retirement obligations and emergency capital equipment or repairs.

The resolution passed 4-1, with board member Jim Sanders voting against. Board president Bryan Alexander and member Larry Paxson were absent from the meeting.

Sanders said he was turned off by the idea of the fund being opened up to "any other uses."

The fund, which has a balance of $103,526, will not, however, be a pocket the schools can dip into when a large amount of extra cash is needed.

"I'd have to come to the school board to ask for an additional appropriation," said business manager Brad DeRome, meaning a public hearing would have to be held and the school board would have to approve each use of rainy day funds.

That process is currently followed whenever a request - for example an emergency heating system repair - comes up.

Also, since the fund does not replenish with state or tax funds, it's a limited resource. The rainy day fund accumulates cash when the board moves leftover funds from other accounts.

Board member Mike Masters questioned whether adding the provisions would potentially cause a future situation in which teachers might use the rainy day balance as justification that the school board could afford to increase wages or other benefits.

Superintendent Tim Long said that since the fund is relatively small and non-replenishing, he didn't anticipate any future problems. And, if in the future school funding returns and the balance of the rainy day fund booms, the board could always remove the language at that time.

"I don't see anything wrong with approving the language," said board member Jay Halstead and brought the motion to approve, which was passed.

In other business Monday, the school board:

•Will attend an Indiana State Board of Accounts meeting March 25. Long and several school board members will attend the meeting, which will likely have an update on how the recently completed Indiana General Assembly session affects schools.

•Were informed by Long that Indiana did not qualify for Race to the Top funding. The federal program provides funding to states trying to innovate and reform education.

•Were updated on the status of cost reductions by Long, who said, "We feel like we've identified a good portion of those."

•Were informed that quotes are being taken for heating and cooling systems at Judge Haynes, General Shanks, East and Bloomfield elementary schools. Long said he would present that information at the next meeting.

•Were updated about a recent Indiana State Teacher Association meeting. Long said that schools across the state are facing similar cuts to Jay Schools.

"It's happening all over," he said. "There's a bit of uncertainty and fear."

•Were informed that quotes are being taken for improvements to the West Jay Middle School library.

•Approved new hires, staff resignations, leaves of absence, new coaches, coach resignations and field trips.

•Received the financial report from DeRome. DeRome informed the board that the school corporation will receive $22,884,000 in 2010 State Basic Grant fund, which translates to a loss about $1.09 million or 4.4 percent from this school year's budget.

•Issued a public thank you to Joel and Connie Roberts for their fundraising efforts for the Jay County Hospital Foundation, which helped to fund the Wellness IN Schools program being run in the Freshman Academy.

Also issued a thank you to David Littler of Littler Die Cast for donating a blueprint cabinet being used in the transportation department.

•Approved two contracts for special education and occupational therapy services. A staff member had signed contracts with the providers but the contracts were not brought before the school board.

The school board approved the contracts and Long said a reminder has been issued to faculty and staff that only the school board has the authority to approve contracts.

•Were informed by DeRome of several summer maintenance projects on the docket. Projects include repairs to doors at Judge Haynes, brick repairs at Westlawn Elementary, repairs to the Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium at Jay County High School, replacement of a fence and installation of railings at the stadium and improvements to the West Jay Middle School library.

•Were informed by assistant superintendent Wood Barwick that a textbook adoption recommendation will be ready for board review in April.

•Were informed by Barwick that all third through 10th grade teachers are "highly qualified" based on No Child Left Behind standards. To receive the status, teachers must hold a bachelor's degree, be licensed by the state and exhibit mastery of the subject they teach.

•Were informed by Barwick that 50 students are enrolled in the Jay County High School annex program at the John Jay Center for Learning. The program allows students to obtain a high school diploma.

Barwick said a goal of the program, which was started with federal stimulus money, was to be self-sufficient by the time the funding runs out. He said on current enrollment the program would support itself.[[In-content Ad]]