News
»School board hears of state cuts of 5 percent
Posted Local at Dec 15, 2010
By Tim Huether
Bennett County School District Superintendent Wayne Semmler addressed the school board Monday night, expressing concern of Governor Rounds plans to decrease the per pupil funding next year by at least five percent, resulting in a loss of $130,560 for the district.
Semmler said that number could even go as high as a 10 percent decrease and said because of the school’s decline in enrollment by 52 students this year, it may cost the district an additional $130,560 in the near future.
It gets worse. The district is in Level II School Improvement, and they will lose approximately $175,000 in Title funding.
“It could get worse and I don’t expect it to get better,” said Semmler about the funding woes.
Semmler told the board they are fortunate to have built their reserve to a good level, but it will mean looking at cuts in the future to make sure they do not risk raising the per pupil expenditure cost too high, which in turn could result in a loss of Impact Aid funding.
Tom Law of Rasmussen Mechanical Services submitted a proposal to the board for a boiler replacement at the high school, saying it was a project that is part of the five year plan.
The project will cost the district $164,000 and will include changing out the old boiler and replacing it with a 97 percent efficiency hydronic boiler system. Law said it will lower the energy usage and will give the school better control of the heating system and lower the cost of operation.
Board member Mike Bakley asked if the old boiler was on it’s last leg or was it an issue of making it more efficient.
Law said it is on it’s last leg and said they put in a replacement one about six years ago when a boiler went out. Because it was an emergency situation, they had to use one off the shelf for a quick fix and that boiler is about 55 percent efficient.
The steam boiler, separate from the one put in six years ago, is 15 years old and has a life expectancy of 10 years.
Board member Dondee Krolikowski asked what the life expectancy of the new proposed boiler system is and Law responded, 20 years.
No action was taken at this time.
The board discussed working on moving more sporting events to the weekend, or non-school days. School Athletic Director Bert Ready said they are limited by several factors, such as geography and other schools on different schedules than our four day week. Ready said he will try to move more events to the end of the week. He asked the board for direction so he does not have to add or subtract games later.
Grade School Principal Stacy Halverson said she had a lot of positive comments on the grade school concert last week. She said they have the concert at the Activity Center because the students need to practice and it would require transporting a lot of kids to the Legion if that facility were used, making the best location the Activity Center.
Board member Todd Alexander said he had complaints from some people because they could not see very well and people were standing up to take photos and blocking the view of others. He said they need to have it in a place people can see or put in a stage at the Activity Center.
Halverson said that from a teacher’s standpoint, it’s better at the Activity Center. Other board members agreed that transporting the kids to the Legion would be a concern.
Belinda Ready discussed Title funding and the new school web site.
Ready updated the board on the school lunch program, clarifying the issue of the program losing $17,000, as it was earlier reported. After Ready explained that the school is behind on getting reimbursed for food costs from the government, she was asked if that is why it appeared they had lost money and she replied, yes. She said they are owed $29,610 for reimbursement from the months of October and November.
A letter was read from Badlands RC&D director Sharon Denison, requesting the school allow YouthWorks to use the showers at the football stadium complex next summer. Since the item was not on the agenda for action, the board decided it could be moved to the January meeting, with members expressing support of the program.
Mr. Semmler said he continues to get questions about what the school is going to do with the Riverside School building. Semmler said the school’s attorney has looked into legal issues and the school did purchase the land, eliminating a potential issue with that. The board agreed to continue to look into options with that building.
Semmler presented the board with a long list of potential construction projects that needed to be considered for the coming school year with cost estimates of each item.
The board will hold a review and approval of the Indian Policy and Procedures Policy on January 11 at 5 p.m. at the school business office board room.
In other board action:
- Approved moving the January monthly meeting from the 10th to the 17th at 5:30 p.m.
- Accepted the resignation of Kevin White Face, custodian and bus driver, effective Dec. 17.
- Recognized Bennett County Education Association request to be the bargaining unit for negotiations for the certified staff for the 2011-2012 school year.
- Approved School Improvement Plan.