Strong finances

Jay Schools are in strong financial shape.

A presentation Monday during a Jay School Corporation Board of Finance meeting, which immediately followed Jay School Board’s organizational meeting for 2024, board members learned 2023 surpluses in both the education and operations funds pushed year-end balances to their highest marks in at least three decades.

Also Monday, the school board approved advertising for bids for a new heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system at West Jay Elementary School.

Business manager Shannon Current presented a report to the board of finance that shows the school corporation with year-end cash balances of $7.9 million in its education fund (formerly known as the general fund) and $4.68 million in the operations fund. Those are up by about $1.1 million and $1.6 million from the previous year, respectively.

Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley and Current attributed the large increases to several factors, including Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds from federal coronavirus relief packages, school consolidation and interest.

Current also noted that the school corporation’s rainy day fund finished 2023 at $1.82 million and its food service fund at $1.34 million.

In all cases, the increases continued a trend. The education fund has steadily climbed from just under $1.5 million in 2017, the operations fund from less than $100,000 in 2015, the rainy day fund from $70,782 in 2016 and the food service fund from $113,867 when Chartwells took over management in 2019.

“You’re fiscally as strong as you’ve been since 1993,” Gulley told the board. “You’re fiscally strong. Your wages are improving for your employees. And you’re investing dollars into your facilities that are good for the long term.”

He also noted that some teaching positions that have been funded by ESSER dollars, which come to an end this year, will shift back into the education fund moving forward.

Current also shared enrollment and staffing numbers.

Jay Schools enrollment was at 2,900 students as of Jan. 1. That’s down from about 6,000 when Jay County High School opened in 1975, but the number has been relatively stable over the last three years.

The school corporation currently has 422 employees, up slightly from a low of 413 in 2021. The number’s recent peak was 540 in 2013.

During the school board meeting, board members Ron Laux, Donna Geesaman, Phil Ford, Jason Phillips, Vickie Reitz and Chip Phillips, absent Marcie Vormohr, gave Current permission to advertise for bids for a renovation of the HVAC system at West Jay. As was noted at last month’s meeting, the system has experienced various maintenance issues this year.

Architecture and engineering firm Barton Coe Vilamaa estimates the project cost will be $480,000. Because it is expected to cost more than $150,000 it must go through a formal bidding process.

The school corporation will accept sealed bids for the work until 2 p.m. Feb. 6. The board is expected to consider awarding the project at its Feb. 12 meeting.

The board plans to use ESSER funds from federal coronavirus relief dollars to pay for the project.

In other business during the school board meeting, board members:

•Re-elected Laux as president, Geesaman as vice president and Ford as secretary.

•Heard Gulley appoint Reitz, Geesaman and Chip Phillips to the board’s insurance committee; and Laux appoint himself, Geesaman and Ford to the negotiations committee and Reitz as the board's legislative delegate.

•Heard Rob Weaver of WPGW radio thank the school corporation for hosting events such as the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association Class 2A team state finals and Jay County Invitational swim meet that were held Saturday. He noted that large events serve as an economic driver for the county.

•Appointed the following: Josh Atkinson of Coldren, Frantz & Sprunger and Amy Matthews of Church, church, Hittle & Antrim as legal counsel; Shannon Current as treasurer and Irene Taylor as deputy treasurer; Trent Paxson, Current and Taylor as authorized users of the safe deposit box; Current and Taylor as small claims court representatives.

•Were reminded to fill out and sign conflict of interest statements.

In other business during the board of finance meeting, board members:

•Elected Laux and Ford as president and secretary, respectively.

•Approved First Bank of Berne and First Merchants Bank as depositories.