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Centre enrolls students from military families

Staff writer

Additional new students from military families will qualify Centre USD 397 to do a second FTE (full-time equivalency) count in February that could increase the general fund budget if those students still are enrolled on the count date.

The board of education received the news Monday at its monthly meeting.

Clerk Peggy Falen said the original general fund budget was drawn up in expectation of an FTE of 223 students. By the official count date on Sept. 20, an additional 18 students had enrolled. More enrollees are anticipated.

Falen said the district may need to re-publish the general fund after the re-count in February, but no additional local taxing would be required. The additional funds would come from the state.

The at-risk budget will be republished because free lunches originally were estimated at 57, but the actual Sept. 21 count was 76. Again, no additional local taxing will be required because the money is included in the general fund.

State aid cut

An additional cut in state aid in November is resulting in a loss in budget authority.

State aid has been reduced by $421 per full-time student since 2008-09. In November, state aid was reduced to $4,012 per full-time student, resulting in a reduction of $116,081 in spending authority, but the increase of 18 students resulted in an overall reduction of $6,412 from the published budget.

According to the report, the local option budget (LOB) has been increased by $15,000 to $445,000 since 2008-09. The maximum authority allowed under current law is $700,000. The district cut expenditures for 2009-10 by $85,000.

Because state aid payments will not be made as scheduled in February, it is possible the district will not have sufficient money in the general fund to make payroll expenses in January and February, Falen reported. The December payroll has been met.

District officials may ask the board at future meetings for a temporary transfer from its contingency reserve to pay employees and/or make bill payments.

Other business

The board approved a Biddy Basketball activity for students in grades four, five, and six, with dates to be announced. Coaches Kelly Steiner and Alan Stahlecker will receive $350 each.

The board reduced the mileage rate from 55 to 50 cents per mile, pursuant to the state’s reduction.

They spent 22 minutes in executive session to discuss matters related to non-elected personnel. No action was taken upon returning to open session.

Kemble announced the first goal-setting meeting has been set for Jan. 20. Letters will go out before Christmas inviting patrons to join the group.

She reported a slight swell in the floor in the northeast section of the gym floor. An inspector said it was due to moisture under the floor. As the problem is not noticeable to basketball players, it will be further investigated in the spring to determine where the moisture is coming from and what course of action to take.

Kemble reported she is working on qualifying the district as a Title I school under No Child Left Behind. She said many components of the schoolwide program are already in place at Centre, and it would allow educators to be more flexible and efficient in meeting the needs of students.

Principal Nadine Smith informed the board of a conservation project undertaken by students of Candy Riedel’s Biology I class. They provide public service announcements in the school once a week to promote recycling. They are also interested in starting an Environmental Club.

Smith is looking into installing guard rails at designated places along gym seats.

Smith encouraged parents and patrons to access the school Web site, www.usd397.com, to view the school calendar. She said it lists when finals will be given and can be advanced to show sports games scheduled for the 2010-11 school year in the new Wheat State League.

The Web site also provides a link to fifth to twelfth grade learning goals posted by teachers for each day of the week.

Last modified Dec. 16, 2009

 

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