School finances looking solid

As the Jay School Corporation gears up for the start of a new school year in 24 days, members of the board were told the corporation’s finances continue to look solid.
Brad DeRome, business manager for Jay Schools, told board members a combination of factors — including state funding at expected levels and local cost-savings measures — should leave revenue at or above expenses for 2012.
“We expect to finish in the black in the general fund for 2012,” said DeRome, adding that state funding for full-day kindergarten is expected to increase in December.
Responding to a question from board president Greg Wellman, DeRome said there has been a positive impact on the bottom line from retirement buyouts offered to veteran employees.
“The impact is that our payroll isn’t as high as we would be (without the buyouts),” DeRome said.
Assistant superintendent Wood Barwick also updated the board on results from the spring ISTEP+ testing, which saw Jay Schools show the eighth-best improvement in the state as compared to prior year scores.
That improvement was detailed in a story in Saturday’s edition of The Commercial Review.
The board also established new ISTEP+ related goals for the coming school year. Those goals are:
•Grade 3 — Improve language arts and math scores 3 percent
•Grade 5 — Improve social studies scores 3 percent
•Grade 6 — Improve language arts and science scores 3 percent
•Grade 7 — Improve language arts 3 percent
•Grade 8 — Improve language arts by 4 percent
As part of a consent agenda, the board nearly completed hiring of certified staff for the coming school year.
Superintendent Tim Long said just 1.5 certified positions remain unfilled, and that more than 30 positions have been filled since the end of the 2011-12 school year.
“We’re almost there. We’ve very excited. Most of our activities … are on the uphill side of preparation for school,” Long said.
In other business, board members Beth Krieg, Jim Sanders, Michael Shannon, Ron Laux, Mike Masters and Wellman:
•Learned from DeRome that the West Jay Middle School heating and cooling project began June 25, with a goal of completion by Jan. 1. Crews hope to have air conditioning in the gymnasium by the start of school Aug. 13.
•Approved two transfers from the debt service fund at the request of DeRome. A total of $25,000 was moved from debt service to the rainy day fund, and $40,289.68 was moved from debt service to the textbook rental fund.
•Were told attendance in the corporation improved by more than 1 percent during the 2011-12 school year.
•Approved the following new employees: Scott Clamme, special education, Jay County High School; Colleen Linehan, part-time art teacher, West Jay Middle School; Deborah Holden, special education assistant, WJMS; Renee Kleinhenz, English/language arts, East Jay Middle School; Susan Brown, special education assistant, Westlawn Elementary; Aaron Daniels, special education assistant, JCHS; Dennis Dwiggins and Ted Habegger, driver education, JCHS; Megan Burke, sixth grade special education intervention, EJMS; Linda Leonhard, preschool secretary, Jay School Corporation; Danielle Platfoot, seventh grade special education intervention, EJMS; and Janelle Miller, preschool assistant, JCHS.
•Approved resignations of special education teachers Marty Ballard (General Shanks), Ashlee Keuneke (JCHS) and Jessica Walls (Westlawn).
•Approved the following extra-curricular activities appointments:
East Jay — Taryn Koontz, sixth grade volleyball
West Jay — Irene Taylor, pep club, honor society and student council sponsor; Violet Current, eighth grade volleyball; Lindsey Current, seventh grade volleyball; Paul Scott, assistant football; Bill Back, assistant football.
JCHS — Tim Antrim, assistant football; Aaron Hoevel, assistant boys soccer; Sarah Wenk, assistant volleyball; Sarah Mescher, assistant volleyball/girls track; Butch Gray, boys and girls golf; Alan Bailey, boys soccer; Susan Garringer, girls tennis; and Andy Pfeifer, assistant wrestling.
Also, Tracy Muhlenkamp, assistant girls soccer and freshman girls basketball; Zach Keller, student council; Marc Bogenschutz, junior varsity girls basketball; Doug Arbuckle, varsity softball; Greg Garringer, boys track and assistant wrestling; Tom Leonhard, assistant boys track; Katie Clark, student council; Tim Millspaugh, senior service learning coordinator; Kari Anderson, JayKom coordinator; Melanie Stockton, senior class sponsor; Aaron Daniels, assistant football; Laura Collins, volunteer assistant volleyball; Jason Chaney, volunteer boys/girls soccer; Amy Grady, summer band guard instructor; and Josh Swift, volunteer boys track.


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