School districts' payment delay costs cooperative
Marion County Special Education Cooperative Clerk Danette Eis reported to the board June 20 that money had to be withdrawn to cover expenses because school districts did not provide tax transfers in a timely manner.
Eis said school districts are required, by policy, to provide the payments within five days of receipt but instead districts held the money 12-14 days, until the next board meeting.
The late payments resulted in the cooperative's checking account being short and a withdrawal of $2,400 from a CD was made.
Cooperative director Chris Cezar said school districts should be able to transfer those funds without board approval since it is a budgeted transfer. Eis said if the payments had been sent in the proper time frame, there would not have been a shortfall and the need to withdraw from the CD.
In other business:
— Cooperative office staff will receive four percent pay increases of approximately $1,000 each for the coming school year.
With the pay increase, new paraprofessional positions would be paid $7.92 per hour. Cezar said he checked with other school districts and found Marion County paid less. He said he wanted to increase the starting wage to $8 per hour. He also wanted to check into the possibility of providing health insurance.
— The board approved Cezar's contract for the 2007-08 school year.
— An annual maintenance fee of $3,285 for a software program was approved.
— Cezar reported a $40,000 windfall will come the cooperative's way because the final education payment from Kansas State Department of Education. Last month the state had reported shared categorical aid would be $23,800 per teacher but ended up being $24,275.
The amount will increase to $26,500 in the coming school year.
— More information will be gathered regarding the funding for master's programs for speech therapists. In return the therapists would agree to work at the cooperative for a specific amount of time. This program only would be utilized when there was a need for speech therapists or other professionals.
Deb Geis of USD 410 said it was a great idea but asked what if there was a need when the professional started the advanced education process but by the time he/she completed the degree program, there weren't any openings? Cezar said that would be something to check into.
— Retiring special education cooperative employees and board members were recognized for their years of service.
Carol Dyck and Marilyn Reimer were thanked for 31 and 15 years, respectively.
Board chairman and USD 411 representative Richard Drake was recognized for six years of representation; Clark Davis of USD 397, Centre, for nine years.
Davis commented that the success of the cooperative board was based on looking beyond individual school boards in making decisions for the good of the entire cooperative.
— Lisa Regier was hired as a school psychologist for $38,000 for a 200-day contract.
Resignation, terminations, and/or retirements were approved for Belinda Engler, Michelle Ronen, Jeffrey Penner, Amy Zeller, Nancy Fruechting, and Ginger Hurst. Rachelle Pohlman resigned in March from a position in OASIS but since has returned.
— Horse riding equipment that was purchased by the district for Engler's class will be advertised for bids.
— Doe Ann Hague, representative of USD 398, Peabody-Burns, was appointed as acting chairman for the next board meeting at 7 p.m. July 16. A chairman will be selected at that meeting.
