Superintendent Beth Schwarz outlined the school’s FY2011 budget at a truth-in-taxation public hearing December 21, 2009, although no community members came specifically for the hearing. Currently the school does not have an operating referendum to support its budget, but Leonard Sobanja wrote in his December 9 school board work session minutes, “By consensus the board agreed that we needed to hold a referendum, the details to be worked out at a later meeting.”
The school levy will be $498,279.45 for FY2011, an increase of almost 30% over this year. Thepercentage of the increase taxpayers will see on their property taxes will vary, however, depending on factors such as homestead status. The levy paid through local taxes represents only about 6% of the school’s budget.
Cook County is a propertyrich county, Schwarz said, and does not get as much state aid as some other counties because of that. Taconite revenue has been lowering the local levy by almost half in recent years, how- ever. Cook County’s levy will be the lowest of the 12 Minnesota districts closest in size to Cook County and is the lowest of the counties in the northeast region of Minnesota.
Of the 12 districts closest in size to Cook County, all but two currently have operating refer endums.
Adding to FY2011 expenditures will be repayment of bonds for retired employee ben efits. Federal payment-in-lieuof taxes for federal lands within the county will be declining for the next couple of years. This last year, revenue was higher than had been projected, and expenditures came within 1% of the budget. Next year, the school will be $444,485 short of the $1,180,000 fund balance it had targeted. The school is still paying for a major renova tion and addition a decade ago, Schwarz said.
This next school year, the district anticipates a deficit of $675,000.
The board passed a resolution directing the administra tion to recommend reductions in programs and positions. The resolution states in part, “The financial condition of the school district dictates that the school board must reduce expenditures immediately.” Because of the school’s financial condition and its declining student enrollment, the resolution states, “a determination must be made as to which teachers’ contracts must be terminated and not renewed and which teachers may be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits….
“The school board hereby directs the superintendent of schools and administration to consider the discontinuance of programs or positions…and make recommendations to the school board for the discontinuance of programs, curtailment of programs, discontinuance of positions or curtailment of positions.”
Personnel changes
The board approved a oneyear leave of absence for Margo Furcht, who is having a baby. Taking her place as interim manager of Upper Shores Fitness Center will be Seth Falk.
Seventh grade girls’ basketball coach will be Kelly Roberts, and seventh grade boys’ basketball coach will be Caleb White, both to be paid $1,049 by the Booster Club.
Kathryn Ramberg was hired to teach math on a .34-time basis.
Michael McHugh will be paid $1,231 by the Cook County Education Association to direct this year’s one-act play. Adam Helbach was hired as the assistant director and will receive $400 from the play’s budget. According to Superintendent Schwarz, McHugh offered to write the play to save the district royalty costs and to tailor the production to the specific talents of the students.
Digital recording equipment
The board voted to spend about $500 for digital recording equipment to record closed meetings as required by law. The new equipment is expected to produce better sound quality than a tape recorder, Superintendent Schwarz said. Communications specialist Duane Ege will help district staff choose the equipment.
Rod Wannebo said that during building renovations a decade ago, he recommended that a room be designed with built-in media equipment.
Superintendent Schwarz said the expenditure will come out of the school board budget, but it will be deficit spending. “I do see it as a legal issue for the board,” she said. That day, she said, she had missed recording “something important” when she had to turn a tape over. Fortunately, someone else was also recording the meeting.
New school board meeting dates
At the request of school board member Eric Kemp, the board will be meeting the third Wednesday of each month (instead of the third Monday) starting January 20. Kemp said this would give the board a couple of business days after receiving their informational packet to make calls relating to agenda items.
Superintendent Schwarz said she has found that people can be hard to reach on the weekends. Having a couple of extra days between the board packet being sent out and the meeting may result in more agenda items added at the meetings, however, she added.
Meetings start at 5:30 p.m.
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