July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
School finances could be tight
Jay School Board
Jay Schools made it through 2009 okay, but board members and administrators know the year ahead is going to be a real challenge.
"Obviously this has been a trying year," school board president Bryan Alexander said Monday at the first board session of 2010.
Superintendent Tim Long said he expects state funding to drop by $1 million, forcing local schools to be creative in managing their spending.
"We're going to have a plan," Long said. "I think we're two years away from any kind of recovery."
School spending cuts will be at the top of the agenda at the board's next meeting on Monday, Jan. 25.
School corporation business manager Brad DeRome reported Jay Schools ended 2009 with a cash balance of $3.1 million. Revenues in 2009 exceeded expenses by $183,391.
"In six of the prior seven years, we have been able to finish with an increased cash balance in the general fund at the end of the year," DeRome said.
The cushion created by that cash balance is likely to be critical in 2010.
Also at the top of the 2010 agenda will be a series of needed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning projects.
An October report by Validated Custom Solutions and CSO Architects estimated more than $4 million in work to be done at Bloomfield, East, General Shanks, Judge Haynes, Redkey, and Westlawn elementaries and West Jay Middle School.
Long and board member Jim Sanders have been working with architect Clay Davis to bring those numbers down.
"We've got a pretty good overview," Long said.
Sanders reported that by scaling back the plans at Bloomfield, East, Judge Haynes, and General Shanks it should be possible to trim more than $1.1 million from the projected cost and still complete a small project at Pennville Elementary School.
The big projects - Redkey estimated at $710,000, West Jay estimated at $1,320,000, and Westlawn estimated at $630,000 - still need to be thoroughly reviewed, Sanders said.
In other business, the board:
•Hired Matt Goldsworthy in the technology department, Ted Habegger and Dennis Dwiggins as driver's education teachers, and Scott Sprunger as a special education instructional assistant at General Shanks. Jonathan Wolverton was also approved as a volunteer teacher
•Re-elected Alexander as president, Greg Wellman as vice president, and Jay Halstead as secretary.
•Designated DeRome as treasurer and Jane Carlin as deputy treasurer and authorized both of them to have access to the school corporation's lockbox.
•Authorized DeRome, Sharon Dues, and Linda Selvey to represent the school corporation in small claims court.
•Made year-end transfers of funds.
•Approved a leave of absence for Angela Flowers at Westlawn.
•Approved Anita Clott as adviser to the Just Say No Club at Judge Haynes.
•Approved the retirement of Kayrin Segraves as a high school food service employee.
•Approved the BackPack for Kids program at Westlawn.
All board actions came on 6-0 votes, with Greg Wellman absent.
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"Obviously this has been a trying year," school board president Bryan Alexander said Monday at the first board session of 2010.
Superintendent Tim Long said he expects state funding to drop by $1 million, forcing local schools to be creative in managing their spending.
"We're going to have a plan," Long said. "I think we're two years away from any kind of recovery."
School spending cuts will be at the top of the agenda at the board's next meeting on Monday, Jan. 25.
School corporation business manager Brad DeRome reported Jay Schools ended 2009 with a cash balance of $3.1 million. Revenues in 2009 exceeded expenses by $183,391.
"In six of the prior seven years, we have been able to finish with an increased cash balance in the general fund at the end of the year," DeRome said.
The cushion created by that cash balance is likely to be critical in 2010.
Also at the top of the 2010 agenda will be a series of needed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning projects.
An October report by Validated Custom Solutions and CSO Architects estimated more than $4 million in work to be done at Bloomfield, East, General Shanks, Judge Haynes, Redkey, and Westlawn elementaries and West Jay Middle School.
Long and board member Jim Sanders have been working with architect Clay Davis to bring those numbers down.
"We've got a pretty good overview," Long said.
Sanders reported that by scaling back the plans at Bloomfield, East, Judge Haynes, and General Shanks it should be possible to trim more than $1.1 million from the projected cost and still complete a small project at Pennville Elementary School.
The big projects - Redkey estimated at $710,000, West Jay estimated at $1,320,000, and Westlawn estimated at $630,000 - still need to be thoroughly reviewed, Sanders said.
In other business, the board:
•Hired Matt Goldsworthy in the technology department, Ted Habegger and Dennis Dwiggins as driver's education teachers, and Scott Sprunger as a special education instructional assistant at General Shanks. Jonathan Wolverton was also approved as a volunteer teacher
•Re-elected Alexander as president, Greg Wellman as vice president, and Jay Halstead as secretary.
•Designated DeRome as treasurer and Jane Carlin as deputy treasurer and authorized both of them to have access to the school corporation's lockbox.
•Authorized DeRome, Sharon Dues, and Linda Selvey to represent the school corporation in small claims court.
•Made year-end transfers of funds.
•Approved a leave of absence for Angela Flowers at Westlawn.
•Approved Anita Clott as adviser to the Just Say No Club at Judge Haynes.
•Approved the retirement of Kayrin Segraves as a high school food service employee.
•Approved the BackPack for Kids program at Westlawn.
All board actions came on 6-0 votes, with Greg Wellman absent.
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