The Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., June 25, at the Administration Building to consider a proposed 2012-13 budget that will get the district out of deficit.
Finance Director Karen Moffitt gave a brief overview of the proposed budget at Monday’s regular school board meeting, saying the budget not only will pay off the deficit and end the state deficit elimination plan, but the district could end up with a positive fund balance of $226,602 a year from now.
Her remarks were greeted with applause from the board and the small audience present at Rawsonville Elementary School.
School Supt. Michael Van Tassel made sure board members had the detailed budget proposal in hand so they could study it in advance of the public hearing and the vote that will following during the regular 7 p.m. meeting on June 25.
Supt. Van Tassel said he cannot say he is pleased to present the budget, because there are cuts and the district is laying off people.
But, he said, “It’s gratifying to know the district won’t be taken over by the state” like other districts.
He pointed out the Van Buren district is $2 million over budget this year and to be able to pull off getting out of deficit in such a short time is great.
School Board President Martha Toth said if the district will have a balanced budget, the board will have to do something about the motion it passed that cut the board members’ salaries by 13% but would go back up when a balanced budget is adopted.
She said the total amount is trivial, but it would be unseemly to raise their salaries at this time and so a motion would have to be passed to keep the lower board pay.
Moffitt confirmed that the balanced budget contained the reduced pay for board members.
She reported the 2011-12 expenditures were $47,691,660, which was $2 million in excess of expenditures over revenues. The revenues for 2012-13 are expected to be $45,717,411 and the expenditures $45,267,560.
Board Trustee Scott Russell thanked Moffitt for her work and, “Thank you, Mr. Van Tassell, Mr. Riutta (former Superintendent), and all the staff members who made this possible.”
Moffitt said the assumptions for the new budget include enrollment decrease of 98 students, blended student count at 5,249, reduction of $48 per student in Best Practices funds, no increase or decrease in foundation allowances, eight teacher retirements that will not be filled, salary half step increases due to the collective bargaining agreement, FICA expense at 7.65% of salary, retirement expense at 27.37% of salary, and the health insurance change for teachers.
Moffitt said the district was short $2 million at the end of the 2011-12 fiscal year and the decrease in revenues expected next year adds about another million dollars.
But, it’s all expected to work out to a balanced budget.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board:
• Approved amendments to the 2011-12 school district budget, as recommended by Moffitt;
• Approved renewing membership in the Michigan Association of School Boards and Michigan High School Athletic Association;
• Was advised of Belleville High School technology change orders approved by Van Tassel that included $1,848.56 for two more security cameras; $4,525 for a larger screen for the auditorium; $15,209 for expansion of the district data storage and emergency backup; $14,575 for video recording on a portable cart, and $12,567 for purchase of 14 additional computers, some of which will be spares. Toth pointed out that while the computers are purchased with bond funds, the software will have to be paid from the general fund. Van Tassel said they are still determining what is needed;
• Approved retirements of the following teachers and administrators: Gail Anderson, 27 years of service; Peggy Jacobs, 33 years; Lynne London-Onuma, 27 years; Karen Mida, 31 years; Susan Norquist, 21 years; Valerie Peters, 38 years; Julie Schlicklin, 11 years; Margaret Voigt, 35 years; and Richard Wenzel, 38 years. These retirements were announced after retirees were honored by the board last week;
• Approved the retirements of Veronica McLeod, 33 years, and Sharon Hollandsworth, 27 years, both lunchroom supervisors at Haggerty; and bus driver Diane Vitale, 12 years. The resignation of one-year Tyler crossing guard Kimberly Bryant also was approved;
• Approved the hiring of Angela Stroud as administrative assistant to the superintendent, as of June 6, to take the place of Kathy Kovach, who retired. Also approved was the hiring of bus aide Auria Cummings as of May 8;
• Agreed to hold the rest of the summer meetings at the Administration Building instead of Rawsonville Elementary School, as planned, because of the latchkey use and summer cleaning at the school. The public was advised that the front drive to the Administration Building was temporary closed on Monday. Those attending meetings may have to use the back way by way of Davis Street;
• Announced an update on the New Tech high school within a high school will be given at the June 25 meeting. Van Tassel said they have a waiting list for incoming ninth grade students wishing to be in the New Tech program; and
• Approved minutes of the May 23 special disciplinary meeting that led to the permanent expulsion of BHS Student A for violating state law MCL 380.1311(2) — If a pupil possesses in a weapon free school zone a weapon that constitutes a dangerous weapon, commits arson in a school building or on school grounds, or commits criminal sexual conduct in a school building or on school grounds — and the Student Code of Conduct. The suspension of BHS Student B for 180 school days and the expulsion of BHS Student C for 180 school days also were approved because they were found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct concerning weapons.