(By Rachel Herrington, The Citizen-Times, Used with permission)
A tentative budget for the 2017-2018 school year was outlined in a work session by members of the Allen County Board of Education Monday night—and as parents budget for the upcoming school year, they won’t need school food money unless their child wants seconds.
As discussed in the open board session following the budget workshop, School Food Service Director Mary Hobdy reported that the entire school district qualified for the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the National School Lunch Program.
Beginning in August, students at all four schools will receive free breakfasts and lunches due to Allen County exceeding the minimum standard for eligibility. Sites with an identified student percentage of 40 percent or greater who already qualify for free meals are automatically eligible for the CEP option. With well over half of enrolled students at each school within our district considered low-income, Allen County’s qualifying figure was nearly 55 percent.
Through the agreement, the school district will provide one free breakfast and one free lunch to all students each day for four school years.
For students who want to purchase an additional meal, prices will be $1.25 for breakfast and $2 for lunch.
Hobdy shared a breakdown of the school’s $2,855,241.03 projected food budget. The primary source of revenue comes from federal reimbursements, which are estimated at $1,680,000. The department will begin the upcoming school year, Hobdy said, in the positive $800,000. State reimbursements are expected to total $18,988 while the Summer Feeding Program reimbursement is projected at $29,290.
Projected expenses include $793,131.85 in salaries for 35 full-time employees and food costs totaling $833,000. Food prices typically increase about $25,000 each year, Hobdy said.
Treasurer Angie Anderson outlined a proposed operating budget of $36,499,196,66. for the district. Breaking it down into categories, the General Fund is $24,457,971.53; Capital Outlay Fund, which is based on the number of children in each district and average daily attendance, $272,000; special voted Building Fund, $3,045,399.45; Debt Service Fund, $2,609, 161.73; School Food Service, $2,855,241.03.
A major source of revenue each year, Anderson noted, is the Kentucky Department of Education’s Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding. For the past three years, the guaranteed base payment has been $3,981 per student, for a projected total of $13,064,380 based on enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year. The upcoming SEEK forecast is estimated at $188,426 more compared to what the district received in the 2016-2017 school year, which totaled $12,875,954.
A one-percent pay raise was factored into the budget for all certified and classified staff at a cost of $153,000 to the district. Superintendant Randall Jackson said the last raises were given in the 2015-2016 school year.
“We’ve never gone without a pay increase at least every two years in the last 10 years,” Jackson noted.
A total of $40,000 was budgeted to maintain a second school resource officer since the Community Operated Policing Service (COPS) grant that pays for this service runs out in November, Director of District Operations Brian Carter noted. To make up the difference, only about $22,000 will be needed to fund this position for the 2017-2018 school year, Carter said. In the future it will be closer to the $40,000 figure.
An unknown expense at this time will be the repair or replacement of the HVAC unit at the Intermediate Center. Carter said the school has been battling sludge issues within the units since they were installed 14 years ago. Technicians and a chemist are assessing the system, with a solution yet to be determined.
“If we have to replace the whole system, we’re talking in the $1.5 million range,” Carter said.
In terms of certified and classified retirement expenses, Anderson projected $977,739.35 will be paid out in benefits compared to last year’s $855,000.
Contingent upon matching funds, Anderson said the purchase of a new school bus remains uncertain. Currently, $495,400 is budgeted for transportation expenses, which include fuel, maintenance, repairs and insurance.
To purchase additional textbooks for high school students enrolled in dual credit courses, $20,000 has been set aside.
Other noted items of importance discussed at the regular meeting included an accolade for one program at the Allen County Primary Center.
Principal Tim Wilson shared that the preschool program received a five-star rating by the Kentucky Department of Education.
“It’s the highest rating awarded. We’re very proud of that,” Wilson said.
Allen County-Scottsville High School Principal Shane Davis said this year’s graduating seniors surpassed last year’s in terms of average ACT scores. The 2017 class averaged a 19.6 compared to last year’s 18.3.
Director of Pupil Personnel Garry DeWitt echoed what administrators from each school said regarding attendance numbers being up to wrap up the year.
From April 14-May 12, attendance averaged nearly 95 percent district-wide, up one percent from last year’s figure.
Construction wise, a pay request for $546,134.15 was approved for the James E. Bazzell Middle School renovation project to the Sherman Carter Barnhart architectural firm. Additionally, a $7,373.49 payment was approved to the firm, which Carter noted will go towards purchasing signage that will help direct visitors around the Allen County Schools campus.
Representatives from the firm discussed the JEBMS renovation progress thus far. While there are ongoing projects throughout the building, the main focus this summer will be reconstructing the lobby area. Completion date is slated for later this fall.
Superintendant Jackson thanked school staff and parents for an overall very positive year. The 2017-2018 school year begins for students Thursday, Aug. 10.