July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
State funds to increase
FORT RECOVERY — Fort Recovery Schools ran a deficit in fiscal year 2013 for the first time in nine years, but projected numbers released by the state Tuesday have administrators excited about the future.
Treasurer Lori Koch presented her treasurer’s report to the Fort Recovery School Board at its meeting Monday, showing the school district’s general fund dropped about 10 percent in fiscal 2013 mostly as a result of a decline in property and income tax revenue. She and superintendent Shelly Vaughn also discussed with the board a report released Tuesday that shows Fort Recovery Schools are projected to see a significant increase in funding from the state by 2015.
Board members also got an update on the ongoing high school renovation project, heard about plans for upcoming curriculum changes, and hired several new teachers.
The balance in Fort Recovery’s general fund dropped by $304,181.10 — to $2,707,645.15 from $3,011,826.25 — in fiscal 2013 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013) from the previous year, despite the school system spending slightly less out of the general fund than it had in 2012. The deficit came mostly because revenue from property and income taxes went down by $145,314 (8.5 percent) and $260,385 respectively.
“That was the big hit,” said Koch, noting the unpredictability of property and income tax revenues. “Luckily we had a nice fund balance to begin with.”
But while funding from taxes was down for 2013, the school system expects to see a significant increase in state funding in 2015.
A report released by the state Tuesday showed a projected increase in compensation to $5,613 per student for Fort Recovery schools in 2015 from $4,895 in 2013. That would equate to a total increase of $687,126 based on the school system’s current enrollment of 957 students.
The increase comes as the state has developed a new funding formula that takes into account or puts greater emphasis on factors such as enrollment increases, median income, taxes and transportation. The state’s goal is to try to even out some previous inequities, Vaughn and Koch told the board. For 2013, Fort Recovery’s per-student funding from the state was nearly $400 less than every school system in Mercer County with the exception of Celina.
“For the first time in a long time we are optimistic,” said Vaughn of the projected state budget numbers. “We’ve been in a mode of cost-cutting measures for the last four years. … This will just allow us to breathe … to kind of move away from that cost-cutting mode.
“I don’t know that we’re looking to add anything new, but we’ll have the ability to maintain what we have. We have been doing a lot more with a lot less over the last several years.”
The ongoing high school renovation project at FRHS is on schedule, Vaughn told the board.
The current construction is centered in the northwest section of the building that includes administrative offices, classrooms and the “senior hallway” after renovations were completed in the math and science wing last summer. Electrical work is nearly complete, with a final check scheduled for Friday and a test of the new heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system set for next week.
Most of the work is slated to be complete to allow students to begin school on Aug. 21 as scheduled. Final completion for the project is set for October.
“We have been ahead of schedule and we’re under budget,” said Vaughn. “It’s been good. … I have every confidence that we will be ready for school to start. We’re very pleased.”
The construction of a new student activity center, which will be located where the 1935 section of the building previously stood and will connect to the high school, is scheduled to be completed sometime in the spring.
That project is being financed by the Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters and is separate from the FRHS renovation project.
Vaughn told board members about plans to update the school system’s curriculum, with a focus on math for the 2013-14 school year. Updates for language arts are planned for 2014-15 with science to follow a year later.
A committee including teachers and parents will likely be formed to review the current curriculum.
“Math is our most immediate need because that’s the area where we haven’t done an adoption in quite some time,” said Vaughn.
Following an executive session to discuss employment, the board filled several open teaching positions.
Members approved the hiring of high school English teacher Melinda Heitkamp, band and choir director Samuel Piehl and part-time third grade teacher Tami Brunswick.
Also approved were supplemental contracts for coaches Sara Fortkamp (high school girls basketball assistant), Brad Caupp (high school girls basketball junior varsity), Angie Gehle (junior high girls basketball), Samantha Staugler (junior high girls basketball assistant), Craig Garman (junior high football assistant) and Lauren Day (fifth and sixth grade girls basketball).
The board also gave approval for extracurricular advisor positions for Melinda Heitkamp (newspaper), Maura Hanlon (middle school drama), Michelle Stammen (elementary student council) and Tami Brunswick (third grade book club), as well as a volunteer coaching position for David Evers (girls basketball).
In other business, the board:
•Set pre-school tuition fees for the 2013-14 school year at $90 for two days per week and $140 for four days for children who live within Fort Recovery’s school district. Those numbers are up $5 and $10 respectively from last year.
The rate for children living out of the district is $110 for two days and $160 for four days.
The school dropped its two days plus alternating Fridays option, which Vaughn said would result in savings on staffing costs.
•Approved new job descriptions for employees throughout the school system. Vaughn and her staff had been working on the descriptions throughout the 2012-13 school year to delete outdated language and to add sections regarding technology. Those updates will now be used in conjunction with performance evaluations.
•Passed the consent agenda in which it, approved monthly financial reports for June 2013 and the payment of bills, approved transferring $250,000 to the Permanent Improvement Fund from the General Fund for 2013 and accepted resignations from Tracy Hein Evers as show choir director and Kimberly Pohlman as third grade book club advisor.
•Voted to employ Barbara Alig, Molly Briner, Denise Bruns, Lisa Grieshop, Sheri Grove, Janet Hummel, Bonnie Kaiser, Sandy Kaiser, Toby Metzger, Chad Miller, Marie Osterholt, Tammy Overton, Charlene Pearson, Norma Pottkotter, Nancy Reinhard, Peggy Siefring, Mindy Staugler, Nikki Stone, Kris Vogel and Eileen Wendel as classified substitutes on an as-needed basis.
•Approved renewal of liability insurance for eligible school groups such as the athletic and band boosters and PTO at a cost of $70 each. Each group will reimburse the board.
•Heard from Vaughn that Capital Conference, Ohio’s state-wide school board conference, is scheduled for Oct. 10 through 13.
The cost of the conference is $275 per person or a flat rate of $1,650 for six or more from the same school district. Board members agreed they would discuss attendance at the conference at their next meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in the board conference room at FRHS.[[In-content Ad]]
Treasurer Lori Koch presented her treasurer’s report to the Fort Recovery School Board at its meeting Monday, showing the school district’s general fund dropped about 10 percent in fiscal 2013 mostly as a result of a decline in property and income tax revenue. She and superintendent Shelly Vaughn also discussed with the board a report released Tuesday that shows Fort Recovery Schools are projected to see a significant increase in funding from the state by 2015.
Board members also got an update on the ongoing high school renovation project, heard about plans for upcoming curriculum changes, and hired several new teachers.
The balance in Fort Recovery’s general fund dropped by $304,181.10 — to $2,707,645.15 from $3,011,826.25 — in fiscal 2013 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013) from the previous year, despite the school system spending slightly less out of the general fund than it had in 2012. The deficit came mostly because revenue from property and income taxes went down by $145,314 (8.5 percent) and $260,385 respectively.
“That was the big hit,” said Koch, noting the unpredictability of property and income tax revenues. “Luckily we had a nice fund balance to begin with.”
But while funding from taxes was down for 2013, the school system expects to see a significant increase in state funding in 2015.
A report released by the state Tuesday showed a projected increase in compensation to $5,613 per student for Fort Recovery schools in 2015 from $4,895 in 2013. That would equate to a total increase of $687,126 based on the school system’s current enrollment of 957 students.
The increase comes as the state has developed a new funding formula that takes into account or puts greater emphasis on factors such as enrollment increases, median income, taxes and transportation. The state’s goal is to try to even out some previous inequities, Vaughn and Koch told the board. For 2013, Fort Recovery’s per-student funding from the state was nearly $400 less than every school system in Mercer County with the exception of Celina.
“For the first time in a long time we are optimistic,” said Vaughn of the projected state budget numbers. “We’ve been in a mode of cost-cutting measures for the last four years. … This will just allow us to breathe … to kind of move away from that cost-cutting mode.
“I don’t know that we’re looking to add anything new, but we’ll have the ability to maintain what we have. We have been doing a lot more with a lot less over the last several years.”
The ongoing high school renovation project at FRHS is on schedule, Vaughn told the board.
The current construction is centered in the northwest section of the building that includes administrative offices, classrooms and the “senior hallway” after renovations were completed in the math and science wing last summer. Electrical work is nearly complete, with a final check scheduled for Friday and a test of the new heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system set for next week.
Most of the work is slated to be complete to allow students to begin school on Aug. 21 as scheduled. Final completion for the project is set for October.
“We have been ahead of schedule and we’re under budget,” said Vaughn. “It’s been good. … I have every confidence that we will be ready for school to start. We’re very pleased.”
The construction of a new student activity center, which will be located where the 1935 section of the building previously stood and will connect to the high school, is scheduled to be completed sometime in the spring.
That project is being financed by the Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters and is separate from the FRHS renovation project.
Vaughn told board members about plans to update the school system’s curriculum, with a focus on math for the 2013-14 school year. Updates for language arts are planned for 2014-15 with science to follow a year later.
A committee including teachers and parents will likely be formed to review the current curriculum.
“Math is our most immediate need because that’s the area where we haven’t done an adoption in quite some time,” said Vaughn.
Following an executive session to discuss employment, the board filled several open teaching positions.
Members approved the hiring of high school English teacher Melinda Heitkamp, band and choir director Samuel Piehl and part-time third grade teacher Tami Brunswick.
Also approved were supplemental contracts for coaches Sara Fortkamp (high school girls basketball assistant), Brad Caupp (high school girls basketball junior varsity), Angie Gehle (junior high girls basketball), Samantha Staugler (junior high girls basketball assistant), Craig Garman (junior high football assistant) and Lauren Day (fifth and sixth grade girls basketball).
The board also gave approval for extracurricular advisor positions for Melinda Heitkamp (newspaper), Maura Hanlon (middle school drama), Michelle Stammen (elementary student council) and Tami Brunswick (third grade book club), as well as a volunteer coaching position for David Evers (girls basketball).
In other business, the board:
•Set pre-school tuition fees for the 2013-14 school year at $90 for two days per week and $140 for four days for children who live within Fort Recovery’s school district. Those numbers are up $5 and $10 respectively from last year.
The rate for children living out of the district is $110 for two days and $160 for four days.
The school dropped its two days plus alternating Fridays option, which Vaughn said would result in savings on staffing costs.
•Approved new job descriptions for employees throughout the school system. Vaughn and her staff had been working on the descriptions throughout the 2012-13 school year to delete outdated language and to add sections regarding technology. Those updates will now be used in conjunction with performance evaluations.
•Passed the consent agenda in which it, approved monthly financial reports for June 2013 and the payment of bills, approved transferring $250,000 to the Permanent Improvement Fund from the General Fund for 2013 and accepted resignations from Tracy Hein Evers as show choir director and Kimberly Pohlman as third grade book club advisor.
•Voted to employ Barbara Alig, Molly Briner, Denise Bruns, Lisa Grieshop, Sheri Grove, Janet Hummel, Bonnie Kaiser, Sandy Kaiser, Toby Metzger, Chad Miller, Marie Osterholt, Tammy Overton, Charlene Pearson, Norma Pottkotter, Nancy Reinhard, Peggy Siefring, Mindy Staugler, Nikki Stone, Kris Vogel and Eileen Wendel as classified substitutes on an as-needed basis.
•Approved renewal of liability insurance for eligible school groups such as the athletic and band boosters and PTO at a cost of $70 each. Each group will reimburse the board.
•Heard from Vaughn that Capital Conference, Ohio’s state-wide school board conference, is scheduled for Oct. 10 through 13.
The cost of the conference is $275 per person or a flat rate of $1,650 for six or more from the same school district. Board members agreed they would discuss attendance at the conference at their next meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in the board conference room at FRHS.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD