The
Finance and Operations Committee of the Board of Education of the
Approval of the August 10, 2009 Committee Minutes: Three minor changes were made to the minutes:
*
Page 1, line 26 –
“an” changed to “a”
*
Page 3, line 13
and line 17 –
changed
from “forward the employment recommendation for….” to “forward the
recommendation for employment of ….”
A motion to approve the
8/10/09 Finance and Operations Committee as amended as made by Dr. Stoner, seconded
by Mrs. Schoofs. The motion passed on a
unanimous voice vote.
FINANCE TOPICS:
Building Allocation
Discussion:
Mrs. Peachey explained that as reductions were determined during the 2009-10
budget development process, building allocations were reduced by 10% in order
to meet the anticipated budget deficit.
Now that additional information on the status of the budget is known,
there are some funds available to reallocate within the budget ($81,855). It is requested by the administration that
the Board consider reinstating the funds that were reduced from the building
allocation budgets. Reductions were made
as follows:
East Elementary: $8,125
Sullivan Elementary: $5,512
West Elementary: $7,529
Total Reductions: $53,089
Building
administrators discussed the items that had to be reduced from their budgets in
order to meet the reduction, the impact of those reductions, and how any
reinstated dollars would be designated.
Some of the items mentioned included furniture (teacher and student
desks), books, classroom supplies, SmartBoards, membership dues, ACT practice
test fees, tutoring programs, Eagle News postage, building upkeep (paint,
etc.), teacher website fees, staff development, student assemblies, sports
officials/workers, etc.
Committee
discussion followed, with Mrs. Schoofs noting that she cannot justify the
spending for assemblies, furniture, painting, etc. She stated that she was in
favor of funding the cost of the common assessments separately.
Both
Dr. Stoner and Mrs. Schumacher agreed that the use of these funds will affect
students directly, and support the restoration of the building
allocations.
A
motion to approve the reinstatement of funds in the amount of $53,089 for
building allocations as recommended and forward for Full Board approval was
made by Dr. Stoner, seconded by Mrs. Schumacher. The motion passed 2-1 with Mrs. Schoofs
dissenting.
Revenue Limit Exemption
for Energy Saving Projects: At the August committee
meeting, committee members asked what the impact would be to the proposed tax
levy if the district were to pursue the revenue limit exemption for energy
saving projects for which the DPI is currently working on guidelines. Specific projects that may potentially
qualify for this exemption are the West Elementary boiler project ($104,652)
and Phase II of the West Elementary building automation installation
($31,000). Additionally, the Sullivan
pipe insulation project ($12,000) being considered may also qualify.
Mrs.
Peachey explained that, based on the current estimate of no change to the
district’s equalized value, adding the West boiler project would increase the
mill rate by an additional $0.11/thousand and the levy by an additional 1.3%;
the West building automation installation would increase the mill rate by an
additional $0.03/thousand and the levy by 0.38%. The Sullivan pipe insulation project would
add $0.02 to the mill rate and 0.15% to the levy.
Following
a brief discussion, committee members agreed that it is not prudent to pursue
the revenue limit exemption for energy saving projects at this time.
Adoption of a Resolution
Authorizing a Taxable Tax and Revenue Anticipation Promissory Note for Cash
Flow Purposes in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,500,000: Mrs. Peachey and Mr.
Swartz have met with Mr. Jim Van Lieshout of PremierBank to work out the
details of a line of credit being available to the district for those times
when it is necessary to cover cash flow needs.
PremierBank has put together a proposal that includes a 3.5% interest
rate and an annual fee of $750. Information
received from the district’s bond counsel, Quarles & Brady, on Cash Flow
Borrowing by
Mrs. Peachey explained two minor language revisions
that Quarles and Brady advised. She also
noted that the PremierBank proposal was verbal, and the district will get it in
written form prior to any full board approval.
A motion to approve the
Resolution Authorizing a Taxable Tax and Revenue Anticipation Promissory Note
for Cash Flow Purposes in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,500,000 - with two minor
language changes as recommended - and forward for Full Board approval was made
by Dr. Stoner, seconded by Mrs. Schoofs.
The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
2009-10
H.S.E.D. Contract(s) with M.A.T.C.:
The High School guidance department has identified five students in need of
H.S.E.D. services for the period of August 31 through December 18, 2009. The anticipated cost for these services is $8,405.40
A motion to approve the
H.S.E.D. Contracts with M.A.T.C. as presented and forward for full Board
approval was made by Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mrs. Schoofs. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
FACILITY TOPIC(S):
The
district has explored the potential of insulating the piping and has received
two bids for the project. The district’s energy manager has also
submitted, on the district’s behalf, an application for this project to Focus
on Energy. Focus has approved grant
funding of $838 should the Board proceed with the project.
Discussion
on the timing of this request ensued. One
bid is dated from February, 2009, and this is the first the committee has heard
of this issue.
A motion to approve the bid
of $12,000 from Insulation Industries Incorporated for the Sullivan Elementary
School Pipe Insulation Project as recommended and forward for full Board
approval was made by Dr. Stoner, seconded by Mrs. Schumacher. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
OPERATIONS TOPICS:
Resignation(s)
None
Employment(s)
None
Transportation Request
from Out-of-District Resident: Mrs. Peachey explained
that the district has received a request for transportation services from a
parent who recently moved out of the district but whose children continue to
attend
The
parent is requesting that her two children be allowed to ride the bus from
A motion to approve the
transportation request for an out-of-district resident as recommended and
forward for full Board approval was made by Mrs. Schoofs, seconded by Dr. Stoner.
The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Discussion of Possible
Topics for Future Meetings
-
Maintenance
plan status
A motion to adjourn was made by Mrs. Schoofs, seconded by Dr. Stoner. The motion passed on a voice vote.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:42 p.m.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Secretary,
Pati Fitzgerald