South Adams to buy copiers

BERNE — South Adams Schools will be getting 13 new copiers this year.
The school board approved Tuesday night to purchase the copiers from Perry ProTech at a price not to exceed $78,000 and to enter into a five-year service agreement with the firm. It also heard an overview of the schools’ final property tax revenue for 2014.
Board members knew early on in discussions that the copiers were needed, but debate took place over whether to lease-to-own the machines or to buy them through the general fund to be reimbursed with rainy day money.
Superintendent Scott Litwiller presented members with a three-year lease plan with U.S. Bank at an interest rate of 4.17 percent, but board member Landon Patterson proposed buying the copiers outright, arguing that it would save the school district $5,600.
Board president Arlene Amstutz agreed with the idea, adding that the additional funds could go toward other capital projects such as resurfacing the school’s track.
“It would probably be simpler than doing a lease agreement, and then we would not have to worry about those surprises that sometimes come with agreements,” said Litwiller. “I’m fairly certain that there’s not going to be any surprises, but if we do it with general fund and replace the general fund with rainy day money, we know there’s not any surprises.”
The copiers will also be supplied with PaperCut software, which will help with monitoring usage and keep costs down by only printing when a code is activated for each job.
The board, absent Julie Mansfield and John Buckingham, approved buying the copiers with money from the general fund to be replaced by rainy day funds and the five-year service agreement.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Litwiller explained changes in the allotments of property tax revenues and how it may affect the schools.
In 2014, South Adams received more than $3.8 million in tax revenue, $245,737.98 less than what was certified by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance because of property tax caps and unpaid taxes. This amount is about $11,700 less than what was received in 2013, but is close to the average 94 to 97 percent range for what is usually collected at 93.96 percent.
Usually divided equally between the schools’ debt service, capital projects, transportation and bus replacement funds, new procedure outlines that the debt should be the main priority with it being as close to fully funded as possible. This year, that meant a loss of $38,381 to capital projects to be put toward loans and bonds.
“It’s nice, but then again, for our situation here, it wasn’t really necessary. We were able to make that payment without that new law or procedure,” said Litwiller. “We always have to cut something from capital projects so $38,000 would have been nice to have and would have been put to good use.”
In other business, members Amy Orr, Mitch Sprunger, Arlene Amstutz, John Mann and Patterson:
•Heard from high school principal Trent Lehman about a change in English End of Course Assessment testing for sophomores. Normally students would take the test in April or May of their 10th grade year, giving them only one chance to pass before having to go through remediation. This year, the test was scheduled in December to allow students a second chance to take the test in the case that they didn’t pass the first time.
The idea was taken from schools that saw high passing rates, such as Bluffton, explained Lehman. The first round of testing saw 80 percent of students pass.
•Approved a new position and salary for a grant clerk. The clerk will work 16 to 19 hours a week to monitor federal grants and assist in the reporting of other governmental requirements. The position will be funded at least 75 percent by the grants, with the remainder coming from the general fund.
•Re-elected board officers, with Amstutz as president, Mann as vice president and Patterson as secretary. They also set annual appointments of Rebecca Biberstein as recording secretary and treasurer, Annette Schwartz as deputy treasurer, Sandy Flueckiger as extra curricular treasurer and Tim Baker as attorney.
•Established security bonds of $50,000 for treasurer and $30,000 for both deputy treasurer and extra curricular treasurer. They also set board meeting dates to stay at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month.
•Swore in Patterson, Mann and new member Sprunger, who takes Ray Gill’s seat on the board, into office.
•Accepted an anonymous $15,000 donation to be used for the football program to install artificial turf along the football field where the home team stands, which becomes a hazard because of mud. Remaining funds will be used to purchase new 25-second clocks for the field.
•Approved the hiring of Isaac Werst (middle school head wrestling coach), Caleb Wurster (volunteer middle school swim coach) and the spring musical staff, including State Tatman (drama director), Curt Amstutz (musical producer), Jennifer Thomson (vocal director), Denise Habegger (accompanist) and Danna Kistler (costume fittings and alterations). The board also accepted the resignations of Amie Sprunger (varsity volleyball coach), Steve Schumm (varsity assistant football coach) and Mike Stimpson (varsity assistant football coach).