Tough Economic Times Will Continue For School

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – District School Board members got another warning of tough financial times ahead at their Monday, May 18 meeting.

School Finance Officer Lisa Thompson presented a draft report from the Department of Education that shows the reduced funding levels for the 2011 school year.

Thompson, who serves as state-appointed financial advisor to the district, also explained that school districts are expected to have an ending balance in the maintenance fund of at least seven percent of the total revenue deposited into the fund during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 fiscal years.

“You’re not going to have a seven percent for 2010,” she said. “But, everybody is also aware you’re coming from behind.”

The Department of Education will require school districts that have less than seven percent in 2010 through 2012 to prepare and file a plan outlining how the district intends to cut costs.

“This coming year is going to be difficult,” Superintendent Sammy Higdon said. He added that the 2012 fiscal year would be even more of a challenge with the loss of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds that amounted to more than $380,000 for 2011.

Thompson said that she hoped there wouldn’t be any additional cuts for 2011. “But, there is always the possibility.”

District Business Manager Randy Goodwin followed Thompson with a financial report that showed that there was $680,295.34 cash on hand in the district maintenance fund at the end of April.

Goodwin said that he anticipates a balance of $311,319 in district maintenance as of June 30.

The business manager then presented the claims docket and the Board members voted to approve.

Among other actions at the May 18 meeting, the School Board:

• Approved spending already earmarked federal funds for Grace Dickerson to attend continuing education courses that will help at-risk students.

• Voted to approve the salary schedule for 2010-11.

Some examples from the schedule include $31,250 for a beginning teacher with basic requirements and no experience to $65,520 for an experienced teacher with 35 years in the profession and advanced degree.

Coaches are paid as teachers, but their salaries include coaching supplements as are band directors who get a $2000 supplement.

Principals earn between $64,639 for no experience and $72,139 for 25 years experience. They get an additional $850 to $1,700 for advanced degrees.

Teaching assistants make from $12,500 with no experience to $15,250 for 25 years experience.

Janitors run from $14,533 to $15,158 with 25 years, while maintenance workers go from $25,686 to $26,436.

Secretaries get from $18,878 to $19,753 and school secretaries go from $21,897 to $22,772.

Cafeteria workers are paid from $10,800 to $15,068, according to the schedule.

The figures don’t reflect the three furlough days recommended by the state and approved by the board.

• Accepted an anonymous donation of $831.80 for the elementary music program.

• Approved the handbooks from both the classified personnel and the non-classified personnel with recommended changes.

A correction had to be made to the guns-free schools policy that apparently had been copied from the student handbook and didn’t include consequences for a staff member.

Another issue was the staff dress code that was addressed in two different places in the handbooks.

“Yes, we’ve had fun with dress codes,” whispered a board member. “Just don’t bring up footwear.”

Last year in August about 40 female teachers appeared at the regular board meeting to present a petition with 99 signatures. They were asking the board to revisit the dress code that, according to teachers, included footwear requirements that were unclear and severely limited the types of shoes they could wear.

During that meeting the board voted to return to the previous policy that didn’t include strict definitions of footwear requirements.

At the current meeting, board members agreed to consolidate the policy into one section.

• Approved the Davidson Elementary School handbook after a 12-minute presentation by Principal Chester Drewery.

• Approved the Water Valley High School handbook after a 22-minute presentation by Principal Glenn Kitchens.

• Tabled the athletic handbook until the June board meeting.

• Approved construction of a handicap accessible ramp from the steps to the playground at Davidson Elementary.

The board accepted a bid of just over $20,000 from Womble Concrete of Water Valley. The ramp will be constructed using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

• Voted to approve the 2010-11 school year calendar.

• Approved a resolution to furlough employees for three days during the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Higdon said the resolution was one approved by the school board association and included proper legal language.

• Voted to advertise a public hearing for the school budget.

• Entered executive session to discuss a series of personnel recommendations and two resignations.