School district in great shape financially

 

Nicole Kern

In a meeting July 1, Alva Superintendent Tim Argo told the school board he was projecting a fund balance for next year of a little over $7.4 million. He voiced some concern that the gross production revenue was almost $300,000 less than last year. "Financially our schools are in great shape, but gross production has been the big revenue producer for our district and the trend is down," Argo said. It's s trend he intends to watch carefully.

Board members present for the meeting were Jane McDermott, Larry Parker, Tiffany Slater and Shane Hansen. Karen Koehn was absent.

The board approved the minutes of the last meeting, the financial report and a list of activity fundraisers for next school year.

The board voted to approve booster club sanctioning requests for band, football, Black and Gold, the middle school, Electric Gold and FFA. McDermott asked when they could see the accounting of the booster clubs. "You can request that as a board anytime," said Argo. She said she thought it was important to look at the accounting for each of the booster group funds. Argo agreed it was important to do so periodically.

Board members looked over a list of purchase orders. Argo explained several of them. NWEA is the kindergarten through eighth grade assessment. "We are also going to be expanding that this year with our tenth and eleventh graders so it will give us some vertical alignment," he said. It will allow teachers and staff to work together to look at strategies to address possible deficiencies and gaps in instruction.

The district copy machines lease will be $21,797 to Office Solutions in the second year of a three-year lease. Ross Transportation is to be paid $81,500 for the lease of five route buses. Money encumbered for substitute teachers for next year totals $110,150, which is about what was paid out last year.

Purchase orders were issued for speakers who align with strategic planning goals for teacher in-service. An order for $6,600 is for Damon Brown to work with middle school choirs and show choirs.

In the building fund, Integrity Construction will provide covering for early childhood students to be sheltered when walking from the portable classrooms to the main building. Several purchase orders in child nutrition will start the year for breakfasts and lunches.

Supt. Argo reported receiving a thank you letter from Charla Parker for the help of two district custodians, Coley Beleele and Dustin Moffatt, with setting up for the Nescatunga Arts Festival.

Regarding the final phase of the strategic plan, Argo said there will be some presentations each month on what is being done in the accountability plan.

The board approved salary schedules for next year. There is no change to the administrative salary schedule. On certified staff (teachers), the state mandated $1,220 increase on each step for the years of experience is included. Support staff pay includes a 50 cent increase to base pay for each of those employees. The pay for activity bus drivers was raised to match the starting rate of the regular route bus drivers. All of the extra duty assignments received a 3.5 percent increase which Argo said is standard with what the district has done each year.

The lease with Ross Transportation was approved for five 71-passenger route buses. Argo said this is the final year for that lease.

Personnel Employment

At the recommendation of Argo, the board approved employing two paraprofessionals for next year to fill positions created by resignations. They hired Chance Davis for the high school and Debbie Glass for Lincoln Elementary. Davis has helped with the baseball team for four or five years, and Glass was a paraprofessional at Lincoln last year.

Dr. Steven Maier was approved to teach a one-hour physics class for next year. He is head of the Natural Sciences department at NWOSU. This is the third year Alva has offered this class which Argo described as "a great opportunity to our students." He said enrollment continues to be high in that class and expressed appreciation for being able to work with the university to have Dr. Maier teach it.

Lincoln Principal Madison Williams introduced Nicole Kern whom the board approved on a one year temporary contract to teach at Lincoln. Williams said Kern has experience as a fifth grade teacher as well as in special education.

The board approved some certified and non-certified personal to provide extended school year special education services from July 1 to Aug. 2, 2019.

Special education service contracts for the next school year were approved. Jana Hickman provides occupational therapy. Jan Eden works with a homebound student. Today's Therapy Solutions provides physical therapy.

The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss Alva Education Association negotiations.

 

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