The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education reviewed the 06-07 budget during their regular meeting held Thursday, Jan. 19. The state’s new education funding formula leaves the school’s budget flat for the next seven years.
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“The school will receive no new money,” said Superintendent James Ruse. “That puts the school in the situation of — what do we do?”
Mr. Ruse will ask the board to consider two money-saving proposals at a special board meeting set for today (Wednesday) Jan. 25.
The school has two leases/loans on the books. One is a 1996 lease for the new elementary addition which has 12 years remaining. The other is a 2000 lease for campus upgrades, including air conditioning at the elementary school and other energy saving projects, which has seven years remaining.
The 1996 lease has a $625,000 payoff and the board will consider reselling it at lower interest and paying it off in a year or two years. The 2000 Series bond has a $525,000 payoff. The board will be asked to consider paying off this lease probably in March of this year.
Re-selling the bonds at a cheaper rate and early payoff of the lease, should result in considerable saving for the district.
Yearly payment for the leases is $90,000 and $108,000. In accordance with Missouri Statute 165.011 #11, the cash flow from those lease payments will be channeled to the regular budget (from Fund 1 to Fund 4).
The second half of Mr. Ruse’s proposal is do the same thing again only at a later time.
Mr. Ruse will present more complete details on the plan at the special meeting and the board will look at all angles of the proposal.
The school calendar for 2006-2007 looks much the same as this year’s with a few changes to align dates better with preparation for the MAP test. School would start Aug. 23 and have five snow days built in. The projected end date for school would be May 24 with snow days and May 17 without using the snow days.
Mrs. Warren presented the early childhood special education and Parents as Teachers report. Five students participate in early childhood special education and about 40 families will have been served through PAT by the end of the year.
Superintendent Ruse was offered and accepted a one-year contract.
Mr. Ruse reported on strategies being employed by principals to help teachers increase student achievement, with Principals Burrell, Elbert and Warren actively leading their building staff in pursuit of that goal.
Deadline for filing for board candidates was Jan. 17. Filing were Mike Ward, Kevin Critten, Martin Sweatman and Vicki Corwin.
Mr. Ruse gave the board a presentation on wellness policy changes as relates to student nutrition.
Bills in the amount of $372,773.33 were approved for payment.
All board members were present at the Jan. 17 meeting of the Gallatin R-5 Board of Education.