Jay Schools to advertise budget

Jay School Board has started its budget process.
Board members Monday unanimously approved advertising the 2015 budget at just over $37 million, which is up about $300,000 from 2014.
The budget must be advertised twice prior to a public hearing scheduled for the board’s Aug. 18 meeting. It is slated for adoption on Sept. 15.
Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome will advertise a budget of $37,073,459 for 2015, which includes nearly $26 million for the general fund. All general fund dollars come from the state.
The rest of the budget is split between debt service (about $4 million), capital projects ($3.4 million), transportation ($2.38 million), pension debt service and bus replacement. That money is raised through local property taxes estimated at $1.37 per $100 of assessed value.
However, DeRome emphasized the tax rate will likely be lower because he was conservative in making his budget projections. For example, he advertised the 2014 tax rate at $1.37 per $100 of assessed value and it actually came in at $1.13 (three cents lower than the 2013 rate).
The board had few questions about the overall budget, but member Greg Wellman raised a concern about the year-end general fund balance that has dipped to about $2 million. It was at more than $5 million in the mid 1990s and hovered at about $3 million from 2006 through 2012.
“In the old days we used to argue about two options — either raise taxes or cut expenses,” said Wellman in regard to the board’s desire to get the balance back to the $3 million mark. “Well, it almost looks like they’ve taken raise taxes out of the equation.”
“It’s there, but it’s pretty difficult,” said superintendent Tim Long. “It’s pretty tough … The state taking over the entire general fund, you’re right, it’s continually looking for what we can morph, move, change or reduce.”
The board also approved hiring 13 new employees (see list below) as part of shuffling that has continued throughout the summer. Long noted that the corporation had employees decide to retire Friday.
“Staffing has been a big concern for us this summer, but I think we have most of the things done,” he said.
In other business, board members Mike Masters, Kristi Betts, Ron Laux, Beth Krieg, Larry Paxson, Mike Shannon and Wellman:
•Heard from Long that there will be a welcome breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday at Jay County High School to kick off the school year followed by a meeting at 8 a.m. The first day for students is Monday.
•Approved hiring teachers Autumn Rodeffer (special education – East Jay Middle School), Megan Hunley (special education – Westlawn Elementary), Michael Karn (Jay County Annex), Curtis Little (social studies – West Jay Middle School), Gina Brockman (eighth grade math – EJMS), half-time teachers and half-time instructional assistants Karen Shawver (Pennville Elementary) and Amy Hollowell (EJMS) and instructional assistants Elizabeth Snively (Jay County High School), Amber Willoughby (WJMS), Ashley Motter (General Shanks Elementary), Megan Milthaler (EJMS), Amber Edmundson (JCHS) and Elizabeth Strausburg (Westlawn, Redkey and Pennville elementaries). Also approved transfers for Amber Detro (social studies teacher – JCHS), Erica Eason (bus aide – JCHS), Richard Raines (custodian – WJMS) and Donna Hirschy (custodian – JCHS).
•Accepted resignations from Karen Petro (food service – JCHS), Heather Keller (instructional assistant – General Shanks), Ross Patz (technology assistant – Jay Schools), Holly Patz (math teacher – EJMS), Amanda Hilty (instructional assistant (EJMS) , Megan Burke (special education teacher – EJMS) and Jeff Dollar (maintenance – Jay Schools), Eric Myers (assistant wrestling coach – JCHS), Holly Patz (assistant softball coach – JCHS) and Williams Saxman (sixth grade basketball coach – EJMS).
•Hired coaches Lindsey Current (WJMS sixth grade volleyball), Shannon Current (WJMS seventh grade volleyball), Violet Current (WJMS eighth grade volleyball), Paul Scott (WJMS football assistant), Cheree McCallister (WJMS cheerleading), Lynette Sisco (WJMS assistant cheerleading), Larry and Annette Stultz (WJMS cross country), Chuck Wendel (JCHS assistant boys soccer), Jeff Heller (JCHS assistant wrestling), Kyle Love (WJMS assistant seventh grade football), Larry Wilson (Pennville boys basketball) and Melissa Stotler (Pennville girls basketball). Also approved extra-curricular assignments for Curtis Little (WJMS athletics director), Connie Aker (science chair – JCHS), C.J. Yoder (thespian club – JCHS), Irene Taylor (WJMS student council, honor society and pep club).
•Granted permission to advertise the sale of equipment for wireless communication that became obsolete for the school corporation when it shifted to using a fiberoptic line.
•Approved the purchase of new textbooks for principles of business management and advanced chemistry classes.