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The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education reviewed the proposed budget for the 2010-2011 school year during Monday’s meeting. The board approved the $13.6 million budget for publication and will further review figures during the budget hearing set for 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at the district office.
The total budget figure is the same as the 2009-2010 school year with the mill levy also holding steady. The district is expecting about 2,291 students and state aid in the amount of $8 million. Local property tax revenue is expected to generate about $4.4 million for the district. Business director Chris Ruder said past trends have shown an annual increase of about 70 at-risk students and he expects that increase to occur again this upcoming school year. The district will not know final enrollment figures until the 20-day head count and the budget will be altered if enrollment figures vary from estimates.
Dr. Randy Watson said that by decreasing the amount of cash reserves, the district was able to keep the mill levy stable, despite receiving less funding from the state.
Ruder said state officials have reviewed the district’s proposed budget and said the cash reserves that were retained would allow the district to survive any funding shortfalls or delays in state payments, as was experienced several times last year.
“I like the idea that we have cash reserves if we get cut again,” said board member Donna Viola.
The public is invited to attend the budget hearing. Comments and questions for the board members will be taken at that time. The district’s proposed budget will be published in Wednesday’s McPherson Sentinel.
In other meeting news:
*Watson provided an update on the district’s Citizenship, College and Career Ready program, noting that he continues to work on the waiver process but continues to find new issues.
“The waiver becomes more complicated every week,” Watson said.
The district is attempting to work with the United States Department of Education to receive a waiver from administering state standardized tests. Every district is required to give exams to provide data for the federal No Child Left Behind. In order for the district to obtain a waiver, it has to prove it can provide a replacement exam that will allow the state and federal government to analyze student performance in the No Child Left Behind program.
The board has proposed that tests created by the ACT company be used in place of the state standardized tests at the middle school and high school levels.
Watson said he learned last week that the federal government will require the ACT test, which is proposed to take the place of current state standardized tests, to meet state standards. Watson said he has become working with the ACT company to see if it will conduct a study using its product and the WorkKeys product to see if all state standards are being met. He noted that he is more concerned about the tests covering all of the middle school-level state mandates because several subjects are tested at multiple grade levels.
He also expressed concern that the ACT test and WorkKeys test did not cover the state science standards and that the district would have to continue using the state science exams.
“My hope now is that we will get a waiver that will allow us to give the ACT Test and WorkKeys and the state science assessment,” Watson said. “There are too many things on the science side that the ACT doesn’t cover.”
He also noted that other political issues have come up including other districts wanting the “McPherson waiver” and state and federal Kansas law makers not being able to do much to help the district with the waiver process.
Board member Terry Krier questioned that board’s continued focus on the testing waiver without concern for other parts of the Citizenship, College and Career Ready program.
“We’re moving forward with all the work we need to do because there is a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Watson, who also added that district administration had been meeting with teachers to explain the program and how it would be impacting their classrooms.
Watson said he has set Christmas as the deadline for seeing changes resulting from the new program.
“If we don’t see changes then, we’re not doing the right things,” he said.
*The board approved a bid from the NutriKids program for $14,555 for nine new point-of-sale terminals for the district’s food service program. The district had been seeing several issues with the old hardware and was told that it needed to update the hardware.
*Ruder announced new contracts were approved by the district’s certified teachers.
The following personnel recommendations were approved: Employment- Chelsea Thompson, LES Sp Ed Teacher, Carrie Horn, RES Para educator, Gary McNally, MMS Tutor, Julie Waldschmidt, RES Tutor; Resignation- Jennifer Allmon, MHS Para educator, Raelene Meinen, MHS Secretary, Ashley Pohlenz, Canton-Galva MS, Para educator
The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education reviewed the proposed budget for the 2010-2011 school year during Monday’s meeting. The board approved the $13.6 million budget for publication and will further review figures during the budget hearing set for 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at the district office.
The total budget figure is the same as the 2009-2010 school year with the mill levy also holding steady. The district is expecting about 2,291 students and state aid in the amount of $8 million. Local property tax revenue is expected to generate about $4.4 million for the district. Business director Chris Ruder said past trends have shown an annual increase of about 70 at-risk students and he expects that increase to occur again this upcoming school year. The district will not know final enrollment figures until the 20-day head count and the budget will be altered if enrollment figures vary from estimates.
Dr. Randy Watson said that by decreasing the amount of cash reserves, the district was able to keep the mill levy stable, despite receiving less funding from the state.
Ruder said state officials have reviewed the district’s proposed budget and said the cash reserves that were retained would allow the district to survive any funding shortfalls or delays in state payments, as was experienced several times last year.
“I like the idea that we have cash reserves if we get cut again,” said board member Donna Viola.
The public is invited to attend the budget hearing. Comments and questions for the board members will be taken at that time. The district’s proposed budget will be published in Wednesday’s McPherson Sentinel.
In other meeting news:
*Watson provided an update on the district’s Citizenship, College and Career Ready program, noting that he continues to work on the waiver process but continues to find new issues.
“The waiver becomes more complicated every week,” Watson said.
The district is attempting to work with the United States Department of Education to receive a waiver from administering state standardized tests. Every district is required to give exams to provide data for the federal No Child Left Behind. In order for the district to obtain a waiver, it has to prove it can provide a replacement exam that will allow the state and federal government to analyze student performance in the No Child Left Behind program.
The board has proposed that tests created by the ACT company be used in place of the state standardized tests at the middle school and high school levels.
Watson said he learned last week that the federal government will require the ACT test, which is proposed to take the place of current state standardized tests, to meet state standards. Watson said he has become working with the ACT company to see if it will conduct a study using its product and the WorkKeys product to see if all state standards are being met. He noted that he is more concerned about the tests covering all of the middle school-level state mandates because several subjects are tested at multiple grade levels.
He also expressed concern that the ACT test and WorkKeys test did not cover the state science standards and that the district would have to continue using the state science exams.
“My hope now is that we will get a waiver that will allow us to give the ACT Test and WorkKeys and the state science assessment,” Watson said. “There are too many things on the science side that the ACT doesn’t cover.”
He also noted that other political issues have come up including other districts wanting the “McPherson waiver” and state and federal Kansas law makers not being able to do much to help the district with the waiver process.
Board member Terry Krier questioned that board’s continued focus on the testing waiver without concern for other parts of the Citizenship, College and Career Ready program.
“We’re moving forward with all the work we need to do because there is a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Watson, who also added that district administration had been meeting with teachers to explain the program and how it would be impacting their classrooms.
Watson said he has set Christmas as the deadline for seeing changes resulting from the new program.
“If we don’t see changes then, we’re not doing the right things,” he said.
*The board approved a bid from the NutriKids program for $14,555 for nine new point-of-sale terminals for the district’s food service program. The district had been seeing several issues with the old hardware and was told that it needed to update the hardware.
*Ruder announced new contracts were approved by the district’s certified teachers.
The following personnel recommendations were approved: Employment- Chelsea Thompson, LES Sp Ed Teacher, Carrie Horn, RES Para educator, Gary McNally, MMS Tutor, Julie Waldschmidt, RES Tutor; Resignation- Jennifer Allmon, MHS Para educator, Raelene Meinen, MHS Secretary, Ashley Pohlenz, Canton-Galva MS, Para educator
