July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
State reimbersement for schools back on track (07/18/06)
Jay School Board
By By JACK RONALD-
State government’s improved finances will ease the cash flow situation for the Jay School Corporation.
Jay Schools business manger Brad DeRome told school board members Monday the state is going to get back onto its old monthly schedule of providing basic grant funds to Indiana school systems.
For the past five years, Indiana has delayed its payments in an accounting shift to make the state’s fiscal situation look brighter. DeRome explained that while the school system received 12 basic grants of support from the state over the course of a calendar year, five of those were received in the first six months and seven in the second six months.
By delaying one month’s disbursement, the state could make its balance sheet look better at the end of its fiscal year on June 30. The delay forced local school systems to borrow funds to handle their cash flow needs.
With two disbursements of the state basic grant funds in July, the state will get its school funding system back on track, DeRome said.
He also reported that medical claims and prescription expenses for school employees were running higher than last year and could top $5 million for the year based upon the current pace.
The board and the Jay Classroom Teachers Association have established a committee to try to address health insurance concerns, and, at the urging of board president Bryan Alexander, a similar committee involving non-certified personnel will be established.
While supportive of the idea, board member Mike Masters, who is in the insurance business, cautioned, “Everybody’s looking for a magic bullet, and it doesn’t exist. ... But suggestions are fantastic.”
DeRome and superintendent Barb Downing presented a preliminary capital projects budget for 2007 for the board’s consideration when building the school budget process begins in earnest next month.
The preliminary capital projects budget calls for spending $2,880,000.
The largest individual projects in the budget are a new roof over the West Jay Middle School gymnasium, replacement of the West Jay gym floor, and setting aside $250,000 toward the future construction of a practice gymnasium at Jay County High School. About $400,000 is earmarked for spending on technical equipment such as computer upgrades.
“It’s pretty tight,” said Downing of the capital projects proposal.
“We’re trying to stay within where our tax rate cap will be,” said DeRome. “Remember, capital projects is a rate-capped fund.”
In other business, the board:
•Approved a plan which grew out of discussions with the JCTA to restructure middle school parent-teacher conferences. The new plan calls for parent-teacher conferences to be held in the evening four times a year, using a format similar to that used at JCHS. The parent-teacher conferences would not fall on the same dates as those at the high school. “They believe this would increase parent participation,” said Downing.
•Heard one comment from the public on qualifications for the next superintendent. “I certainly hope that if there’s someone qualified within the corporation they be given the courtesy of an interview,” Ron Laux told the board.
•Accepted the resignations of high school math teacher Erica Kelly and West Jay custodian Charles Julius.
•Approved a medical leave request for Ed Geesaman.
•Approved an extra-curricular contract for Rayma Frankenfield as assistant girls’ golf coach at JCHS.
•Approved a schedule of employees on extended contracts for the 2006-2007 school year.
•Approved bus driver contracts.
•Authorized contracted services from Trina Pope as a music therapist, Rick Ritter as a counselor, Sarah Link Holmes as a physical therapist, and Adams Counseling and Assessments for counseling services.
•Accepted a $600 donation from Wal-Mart and Frito Lay for a new computer at West Jay.
•Approved the use of a school bus by Wabash Cannonball 4-H Club to go to Indiana Beach on Aug. 5.[[In-content Ad]]
Jay Schools business manger Brad DeRome told school board members Monday the state is going to get back onto its old monthly schedule of providing basic grant funds to Indiana school systems.
For the past five years, Indiana has delayed its payments in an accounting shift to make the state’s fiscal situation look brighter. DeRome explained that while the school system received 12 basic grants of support from the state over the course of a calendar year, five of those were received in the first six months and seven in the second six months.
By delaying one month’s disbursement, the state could make its balance sheet look better at the end of its fiscal year on June 30. The delay forced local school systems to borrow funds to handle their cash flow needs.
With two disbursements of the state basic grant funds in July, the state will get its school funding system back on track, DeRome said.
He also reported that medical claims and prescription expenses for school employees were running higher than last year and could top $5 million for the year based upon the current pace.
The board and the Jay Classroom Teachers Association have established a committee to try to address health insurance concerns, and, at the urging of board president Bryan Alexander, a similar committee involving non-certified personnel will be established.
While supportive of the idea, board member Mike Masters, who is in the insurance business, cautioned, “Everybody’s looking for a magic bullet, and it doesn’t exist. ... But suggestions are fantastic.”
DeRome and superintendent Barb Downing presented a preliminary capital projects budget for 2007 for the board’s consideration when building the school budget process begins in earnest next month.
The preliminary capital projects budget calls for spending $2,880,000.
The largest individual projects in the budget are a new roof over the West Jay Middle School gymnasium, replacement of the West Jay gym floor, and setting aside $250,000 toward the future construction of a practice gymnasium at Jay County High School. About $400,000 is earmarked for spending on technical equipment such as computer upgrades.
“It’s pretty tight,” said Downing of the capital projects proposal.
“We’re trying to stay within where our tax rate cap will be,” said DeRome. “Remember, capital projects is a rate-capped fund.”
In other business, the board:
•Approved a plan which grew out of discussions with the JCTA to restructure middle school parent-teacher conferences. The new plan calls for parent-teacher conferences to be held in the evening four times a year, using a format similar to that used at JCHS. The parent-teacher conferences would not fall on the same dates as those at the high school. “They believe this would increase parent participation,” said Downing.
•Heard one comment from the public on qualifications for the next superintendent. “I certainly hope that if there’s someone qualified within the corporation they be given the courtesy of an interview,” Ron Laux told the board.
•Accepted the resignations of high school math teacher Erica Kelly and West Jay custodian Charles Julius.
•Approved a medical leave request for Ed Geesaman.
•Approved an extra-curricular contract for Rayma Frankenfield as assistant girls’ golf coach at JCHS.
•Approved a schedule of employees on extended contracts for the 2006-2007 school year.
•Approved bus driver contracts.
•Authorized contracted services from Trina Pope as a music therapist, Rick Ritter as a counselor, Sarah Link Holmes as a physical therapist, and Adams Counseling and Assessments for counseling services.
•Accepted a $600 donation from Wal-Mart and Frito Lay for a new computer at West Jay.
•Approved the use of a school bus by Wabash Cannonball 4-H Club to go to Indiana Beach on Aug. 5.[[In-content Ad]]
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