Board approves trimmed budget for RC schools

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

Declining enrollment and uncertainties in state funding were on the minds of members of the Rogers City Board of Education at Monday?s meeting. The board approved a budget of $4.821 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1, cutting $136,517 off last year?s budget. To get down to that figure, the board made several significant cuts and suggested other ways to increase revenue. The budget approved Monday, calls for elimination of the transportation/maintenance/buildings and grounds supervisor position, the layoff of a teacher and the implementation of a ?pay-to-participate? program for student athletes.

?WHEN WE first began looking at next year?s budget in March, with our wish list of everything we wanted and needed, as well as all of the fixed costs that we knew, we started with about $300,000 in over-expenditures over revenues. Over the course of a couple of months, we pared that down and brought it down to the first finance committee meeting at about $130,000 over. The following day we had to amend our revenue by reducing the amount the state would give us from $142 per student to about $100 per student,? Byrne said. The change in state funding reduced revenues about $25,000, Byrne said, further complicating the problem. Byrne said the state legislature should decide the final figure by the end of June. Enrollment estimates are for 566 students, a net loss of 26 students from the February count, with an estimated kindergarten class of 40 for the fall. Since the 1997-1998 school year, the school system has lost 291 students, from 857 to 566 predicted for the 2008-2009 year, or an average of 24 lost per year. A pay-to-participate plan for sports is being formulated to come up with an estimated $12,000. That plan is expected to be discussed at the July board meeting.

?WE ARE ALSO recommending the elimination of the buildings and grounds position, a savings of about $20,000 total,? Byrne said. In addition, eliminating the position of supervisor of transportation would be another savings of about $20,000, Byrne said. Patrick Lamb, who also serves as athletic director and wrestling coach, had held both of those jobs. Fixed costs are expected to rise, Byrne said, especially heating costs at the school?s three buildings. ?We started off with about $325,000 of over expenditures over revenues and pared that down to $72,000-plus for an estimated net result of still 16 percent fund equity,? Byrne said. Last year?s budget called for $173,000 of over-expenditures, but over the course of the year decreased by about $100,000, he said. ?This is a fluid budget,? Byrne said. ?This number here doesn?t mean this is it. We will continue to look at ways we can cut in certain departments.? Board members said they did the best they could with what they had to work with.

?IT IS A TIGHT budget in a tight year. Requirements increased from the state, and revenues decreased. I think it is a good budget,? said board member Tim Horn. Board member Armand Loiselle said the committee looked at many options before deciding on its recommendations of cuts, including contracting snow removal and vacating the Grambau Center. In other board action, the board voted to extend the contract of Byrne through June 30, 2011, but did not approve a raise in pay. Board members said his job performance is not an issue, but available funds were a concern. The board also acknowledged the hiring of Chris Shay as junior varsity volleyball coach and Karl Grambau as junior varsity girls? basketball coach. Grambau?s resignation as boys? varsity basketball coach was accepted (see page 2B for story).

Cross county coach Rob Kortman had his request for a fundraiser approved. Advertisements on T-shirts for the Nautical Run will be sold. The board also approved a summer wrestling camp in Rogers City, with registration ending June 15. Funds will be used for travel expenses for the wrestling program, as recommended by high school principal Jamie Huber.

Other budget highlights: ? High school language teacher Scott G. Cheatham, who had been suspended with pay last fall, pending an investigation, will be permanently laid off, effective June 9, ?by reason of necessary reduction in teacher personnel.? After emerging from a closed session, the board voted to accept a settlement with Cheatham which includes accepting his resignation and a cash settlement

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?The school nurse will be contracted for four days per week, the same as this year.

?The technology coordinator position will be reduced from 260 days to 210 days at about a $10,000 savings.

?Elimination of a general education aide at the elementary school will save approximately $20,000. One special education aide also was eliminated. Those effected by this were Anne Kosiara, Amy Nadolsky, Lisa Rhode, and Colleen Vogler.

?The budget calls for elimination of student coordinator?s positions, currently filled by Patrick Lamb and Michael Rivenberg, with noon duty aides supervising students at lunchtime.

?An increased cost of food and milk is proposed to match costs of the lunch program.

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