School spending over $29 million

The Jay School Corporation’s 2004 budget is slated to be adopted at a Sept. 8 meeting after there were no comments from the public at Monday’s public hearing.The advertised budget will be $29.7 million and a projected tax rate of $1.56 per $100 of assessed valuation. Revenues in the projected budget exceed expenses by $1,564.

The corporation was experiencing a cash flow deficit of more than $1 million dollars in the general fund during 2000 and 2001. The cash flow deficit was reduced to just under $200,000 in 2002 and 2003 (projected) and is estimated to be a positive balance for the first time since 1995.

Former board president Ted Champ asked Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome if the budget was balanced, and DeRome said that it was.

“Is the transportation fund balanced?” Champ asked.

“No,” DeRome answered.

DeRome said earlier this month that the transportation fund deficit was his “primary concern” in terms of the 2004 budget. The state of Indiana has cut back transportation funding by roughly $110,000 in 2004, and DeRome has estimated the corporation’s deficit at around $41,000. The state does allow school corporations to offset the loss in transportation funding with money from the general fund. However, that option is little help to the Jay School Corporation because the general fund budget is so tight.

In other discussion, board member Bryan Alexander talked over a possible in change in wording prior to approval of school board policy on operations. In section 8800 on Religious/Patriotic Ceremonies and Observances, the policy reads “Corporation staff members shall not use prayer, religious readings, or religious symbols as a devotional exercise or in an act of worship or celebration.”

Alexander suggested that to avoid future legal problems the board should consider removing the word “celebration” from the policy. It was Alexander’s fear that Christmas time activities could be misinterpreted and could lead to problems in the future. After a short discussion the board agreed to table approving the second reading of section 8800 so Jay Schools Supt. Barbara Downing could investigate the matter further.

Also Monday, the board listened to reports from Jay County High School principal Wood Barwick and JCHS teacher John Ferguson regarding the faculty’s desire for their own parking lot at JCHS. Barwick said he has received reports from Ferguson and other teacher’s complaining that their cars are being vandalized. Currently, the teachers park at the front section of the north parking lot at the high school, closest to the school.

Ferguson pointed to the fact that because of where the teachers park now, all students going to and from the parking lot walk by the teacher’s cars. This, he believes, makes “the teacher’s cars a target” and asked board members to consider approving a separate lot for teacher parking. Calling it a “kind of serious issue”, Ferguson told to board that teacher’s cars have been rammed, spit on and kicked in recent years. He said many teachers have also had their cars ‘keyed’ badly enough that they needed to be repainted.

Members of the board were lukewarm about spending money on a new parking lot.

Doug Inman suggested exploring a video surveillance system in the parking lot to discourage vandals from damaging teacher’s cars. Alexander suggested segregating the lot with fencing that would prevent students from walking by cars owned by faculty.

Board member Jay Halstead, who has many years of experience in law enforcement, was strongly against installing cameras in the parking lot. He noted that he has seen dozens of cases where security cameras were not effective and he would “rather spent $4,000 on pavement” than vote to approve cameras in the lot.

In other action Monday, the board:

• Accepted the following employee hires: Lisa Mann, eighth grade English teacher, WJMS; Jennifer Fisher, half-time kindergarten teacher, Westlawn Elementary; Cassie Fugiett, half-time kindergarten teacher, East Elementary; Sarah Davidson, Title I Instructional Assistant, Judge Haynes Elementary; Jackie Smith, instructional assistant, JCHS; Carey Brunswick, half-time custodian, Bloomfield Elementary.

• Granted the following leave requests: Karen Wehrly, medical leave, from August through first semester of 2003-2004 school year; Wanda Imel, medical leave, from Aug. 15 until Sept. 12; Jeremy Gulley, military leave request, from Sept. 13 through Sept. 27 and again from Oct. 26 until Nov. 8.

• Accepted the following athletic hires: Alan Bailey, boys soccer coach, JCHS; William Ellsworth, assistant football coach, JCHS; James Myers II, seventh grade assistant football coach, WJMS; Amy Steed, sixth grade cheer sponsor, WJMS and Redkey Elementary; Amy Steed, Just Say No Club Sponsor, Redkey Elementary School; Anne Byers, yearbook sponsor, Redkey; Cathy Franks, student council sponsor, Redkey; Julie Barlow, Just Say No Club Sponsor, Redkey.

• Agreed to sign John Ferguson, Dana McClung and Gary Tarr to a Fall 2003 ABE/GED adult education contracts.

• Accepted Jessie Mangus to a INPACE coordinator contract.

• Approved the second reading of the board policies on finances, property and operations. Approval of section 8800 on operations was tabled for the next meeting.[[In-content Ad]]