School Board supports RESA’s 2-mill tax for 6 years

The Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously June 27 to support the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) question of 2 mills for 6 years being put on the Nov. 8 ballot to get extra money for the district.
The tax would run from 2016 to 2021, inclusive.
Interim Superintendent Diane Kullis explained the law provides for the levy of a regional enhancement property tax by an intermediate school district, at a rate of up to 3 mills, for the purpose of enhancing other state and local funding for local school district operating purposes, if approved by a majority of the intermediate school district electors.
Proceeds are paid to each of the 33 constituent districts by the intermediate school district calculated on a per-pupil basis, she said. Detroit is not a RESA district.
Supt. Kullis said the Van Buren School District would bring in $2.8 million in taxes from its district and would receive from RESA about $1.878 million, which would go into the general fund to be used without restriction.
“This is a way to get additional money for the district,” said board Trustee Sherry Frazier.
Board vice president Martha Toth said the per-pupil funding in the district is now lower than it was in 2008 and this new tax is “one way to bring more resources to our district.”
In other business at the June 27 one-hour, 13-minute meeting, the board:
• Approved the 2015-16 amended budget resolution, with Toth explaining the excess of expenditures under revenue of $1,508,652 was due to putting in the $410,000 boiler at McBride ahead of schedule and the salary increases to the teachers that were not in the budget;
• Approved the 2016-17 proposed general fund budget resolution with $47,532,235 in expenditures. Among other things, the budget is based on an increase of $550,218 based on $113 per student increase in State Aid, a projected enrollment loss of 300 students ($2,300,100), Headlee millage rollback of $110,006, teachers’ bargaining group receiving a half-step increase ($274,333), and health benefit increases of 6% ($173,001). An enrollment reserve of $377,700 is earmarked in the fund balance in case 50 additional students are lost;
• Approved the tax rate certification resolution that spells out, in detail, how much money comes to the schools from each taxing jurisdiction in the district;
• Approved a resolution that allows the district to set up a line of credit with PNC for the purchasing card program. Besides being more efficient, this will save the district $43,000, said Finance Director Shareen Barker;
• Approved buying ELA – Journeys materials from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for grades K-6 at a cost not to exceed $392,051.11, as recommended by a committee that studied options. This is part of the turnaround program;
• Approved purchase of the “World History and Geography: Modern Times” textbook for the high school World History course. The book meets the combined Michigan Merit Curriculum of ½ credit for World History and ½ credit for World Geography in one book for one class. Cost is $42,419.04. The current geography book was copyrighted in 2007 and there is no world history book;
• Approved increasing the 15’ Wolverine Pipeline easement at Owen Intermediate School for a low-pressure gas pipeline to 75’. The district will receive $32,160 for the land and is promised repair and replacement of the parking lot and light fixtures damaged by construction. The work is expected to be complete before school starts;
• Approved increasing the .175 acre easement on Belleville High School property to .177 acre for a low-pressure gas pipeline by Wolverine Pipeline. The district will receive $600 for the land and is promised repair and replacement of parking lot and light fixtures damaged during construction. The board was told the work will be done at a corner of the BHS property and would expand the present easement by a foot;
• Heard board president Brent Mikulski said he may call a special board meeting for Thursday night, June 30, if the VBEST contract is ratified by the union before then;
• Heard Trustee Frazier note that the district’s attorney Collins Blaha have sent no invoices in May or June and, “They’re supposed to bill monthly. Our legal fees continue to grow”;
• Approved the resignation of Julie Harden, a teacher at Owen with 16 years of service as of June 15. She is leaving education for another career. Also, approved was the retirement of Diane Kullis as of June 30. Kullis served five years in administration and currently is the interim superintendent;
• Heard a father ask the school board to consider a co-op ice hockey team with New Boston/Huron. He said he has four children in his district and all his son wants to do is play hockey with his friends. He said eight students from Belleville are playing with Huron now. Board president Mikulski said if the board gets more information they could put it on an agenda;
• Heard Frazier say that Barbara Miller is getting a group together to welcome the new superintendent. Miller said she is putting together a committee of the cultural groups in the area to plan an event to welcome Peter Kudlak. She said she’s asking every one to bring a new person to the committee for leadership training; and
• After the motion was made to adjourn, Frazier said she had to speak. “We have to resolve what is hanging over our heads – the four teachers not in the classrooms.” She said this has brought dissention, heartbreak, students have been affected and their learning. She said the attorneys have not billed the district lately because they know how much additional fees they have. “Shame on all of us for digging in our heels…” Frazier said, adding, “I’m really disappointed no other board member has commented on this.” Then, Trustee Kelly Owen next to her said, “Oh, God,” and turned away in disgust. Frazier repeated what Owen said. “You can say you feel bad about the situation,” she said to Owen and the rest of the board.