RC School Board revises budget to cover $267,687 deficit

The Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education conducted a special meeting Monday night aimed at balancing the budget. Revised budget figures for 2004-2005 show projected revenue at $4,996,400 while expenses stand at $5,264,087 for a 267,687 shortfall. Board policy in the past has been to maintain an equity fund level of 20 percent, however, this may be reduced to 15 percent to cover the deficit. Business manager Don Schaedig noted that there are few places where expenses can be cut. For example, he said there were 18 bus routes when he started working for the school district and today there are just six bus routes.

He reminded the board that as the budget crisis continues into next year, people would look back at this time and ask hard questions if the board and administration cannot find a way to cover expenses. “Using the fund equity to pay normal expenses is like using your savings account to pay the electric bill at home. You can only do it once, then you are out,” he said. “In the future you will hear people saying there were poor management decisions on the part of the board and the administration,” he continued. Schaedig added whatever can be done this year to lessen the impact next year should be considered as the state’s budget projections remain dismal. “In this time of falling enrollments, we have to make some really tough decisions about the budget,” he concluded. The board approved the 2004-05 Budget Amendment #1 by unanimous vote.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board reviewed and approved the Public Act 25 and No Child Left Behind Annual Education Report. The building report has changed from three different sections reflecting the different campuses into a unified report. There was discussion about the MEAP test results. Board member Armand Loiselle asked K-12 principal Deb Jones about teacher evaluations of students and whether they take into account the MEAP results. Jones replied, “Teacher evaluations do not address the MEAP results.” Loiselle’s response was one word, “Wow.”

Jones said, “The MEAP standard is not our goal, it’s just a test, so we know how effective the teaching is.”

THE BOARD REVIEWED a cooperative agre

ement with Posen Consolidated Schools. Superintendent Ed Schultz said the Onaway school administration also expressed interest in a cooperative agreement. The cooperative agreements are for students who want to take a class in another school that is not offered in their own school because of funding or other reasons. It is the responsibility of the parents to see that students attend the class in question and still keep up with their home school schedule. Transportation is the responsibility of parents. Schultz also informed the board that Bryan Mills has resigned as advisor to the drama club for personal reasons.

Board members discussed the subject of written performance evaluations for administration personnel. It was decided that these would be put in place in the future.