Minutes, November 9, 2004

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Proceedings of the 20-Year Planning Committee

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

November 9, 2004

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair, Barbara Bryan on Tuesday, November 9th, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 213 at Lincoln Center.

 

Members Present: John Eisen, Matt Brosovich, Randy Hafer, Tim Cranston, Larry Brewster, Peggie Smith, Mike Marnin, Barbara Bryan, Ed Workman, Donnell Small

 

Members Absent: Ludlow Howe, Greg Krueger

 

Others Present: School District #2 Business Manager Thomas Harper, Trustee Kathy Kelker and John Fitzgerald of the Billings Gazette

 

RESIGNATION Tim Cramer of the Lockwood Steering Committee has resigned from our committee but will attend the meetings when possible. Also, no applications have been received yet for a representative from the Heights area.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS None

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Tim motioned and Barb seconded to approve the minutes of the October 26th meeting as presented. The motion passed.

 

GUEST SPEAKER Thomas Harper, School District #2 Business Manager, was present to explain how schools are funded and to discuss projected enrollments and budget shortfalls. Points made by Mr. Harper include:

- District-wide in 2003, revenues increased 5 percent while expenses increased 6 percent.

- Salaries consumed 89.4 percent of the budget.

- Enrollment is projected to decline over the next 5 years, which will impact funding received from the state.

- The elementary budget is at its cap. This budget cannot be increased by mil levies or any other means. The high school budget can be increased by $1.5 -$2 million before it hits the state-mandated cap.

- At this time, there are no funds in the district-wide budgets that could assist in the building or renovating any facilities. Funding would have to be levied.

- The district cannot carry a deficit. Once the funding cap is reached, programs and/or people have to be cut to balance the budget.

- The high school budget does not allocate any money towards preventive maintenance and repair.

- Utility costs are increasing by about 6-10 percent a year.

- Mr. Harper estimates, in order to keep our buildings from deteriorating, that $1million a year should be allocated for preventive maintenance in both the elementary and high school budgets.

- A state remedy for school funding is supposed to be in place by October 2005.

 

Kathy reported that the legislature is looking at ways to find some immediate relief for schools until the new equalized funding laws are in place.

 

DRAFT REPORT ASSIGNMENTS Matt reported that his group has set a baseline dollar amount for the high school projects at $50,000,000. They are looking at some freshmen academy numbers, projected student numbers, and efficient methods of heating and cooling

 

Peggie volunteered to do a summary on the freshman academy experience.

 

Tim will report on population/enrollment projections, census information, and 9th graders in the middle school at the next meeting.

 

FIRST CUT SCENARIOS Barb presented a list of ten “must-evaluate” scenarios – titled

”First-Cut Scenarios” – that she compiled from the scenarios suggested independently by the committee members. Members volunteered to work in groups to further investigate each scenario (gathering needed information and documenting that information for committee review). The list will eventually be narrowed to possibly three scenarios for public presentation. The “First Cut Scenarios” are attached to these minutes.

 

It was suggested that we begin to meet weekly until December 15th, with members attending as many meetings as they are able. This will keep us all on track in completing work on the first-cut scenarios.

 

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

The next meeting will be November 16th at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Recorder, Donna Obie

 

 

____________________________

Barbara Bryan, Co-Chair

 

 

____________________________

John Eisen, Co-Chair

Approved 12/13/04