Diane Blevins Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana April 4, 2005 Call to Order The Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana, was duly held at The Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, April 4, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. Those present included: Katharin Kelker, Judith Herzog, Karen Moses, Gene Jarussi, Clerk Leo Hudetz, Superintendent Rod Svee, Mike Dimich, Conrad Stroebe, Malcolm Goodrich and Dale Getz. Stephanie Krueger was absent. Registered guests included Jack Johnson, Steve Pomroy, Joel Guthals, Danette Cerise, Dennis Holmes, Stan Barr, Shaun Harrington, Pete Gesuale, Janet Baum and Chuck Schewiller. Communication from the Public The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of listening to members of the public in its meetings. The Board also recognizes the statutory and constitutional right of the public to participate in governmental operations. The Board encourages members of the public to participate in and express opinions about issues important to the District. This part of the Board’s meeting is dedicated to public comment on any public matter that is not on the agenda of this meeting and is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees. Members of the public may also address particular items on this agenda either now or at the time the Board considers the particular item. Jack Johnson voiced his concern about removing the eastside bleachers at Daylis as he felt the bleachers were safe. He also recommended to the Board not to see the building that houses Crossroads. Budget Cut Lists The Chair stated the Board members will meet in small groups with Trustees Goodrich and Getz to discuss the cut lists. Trustee Goodrich met with Trustees Moses and Stroebe. Trustee Getz met with Trustees Herzog, Jarussi and Dimich. Superintendent Svee reported the figures from last week’s meeting are accurate but have not been shared with the Business Committee and others due to the time factor. He requested Trustee Goodrich schedule a session with COLT and the association to review the figures and know where the Board is coming from. The members broke into groups to discuss the cuts. Trustee Goodrich reported it was the consensus of his group to consider going to the cap in both mill levies. If cuts were needed in the high school district, the group felt cuts could be made in: Board of Trustees for $100,000, Lincoln Center administration costs of $300,000, $200,000 in comprehensive insurance, $300,000 in building repairs and maintenance, and $1,000,000 for ECA travel requests with funding from the booster clubs. The total of cuts would be $2,100,000. The group did not discuss the elementary budget. Trustee Getz reported his group added an item that was not included in the list, which was to reduce staff by 30 positions using $36,000 per position for a total of $1,000,000. Combined with that was to keep teacher aide costs at the 2004 level, which would save $120,000. Activities fees could be increased sufficiently to save $70,000. The total savings would be approximately $1,200,000. Trustee Getz’s groups suggested teacher aide numbers could be frozen at the 2004 level and reduce the administration at the Lincoln Center. Another suggestion was to reduce any unneeded positions and reduce staff by 42 positions for a savings of $1,500,000. Trustee Stroebe requested a discussion occur as to why the elementary is at the cap and the high school is not. The Chair stated the Board needed to make a decision to see if it wants to go to the cap. The Board would not be making a cut list at this meeting. Trustee Goodrich stated the District only has one number if the Board chooses to go the maximum levy. If we lose that number, we have lost the mill levy. He suggested the middle ground might be the place to get something done. The Chair stated, if the legislators give the maximum relief for school districts, the mill levy amount would be very small or it could be large if the legislators give very little. The law states we must let the public know how much the levy will be prior to the election date. Superintendent Svee stated if there are any investigations or legal fees after the Board of Trustees’ budget is cut by $100,000 as proposed, it could find itself over budget. Cutting $300,000 from administration at the Lincoln Center would mean $100,000 in the high school district and $200,000 in the elementary. Accreditation standards would have to be reviewed when considering those cuts. If ECA travel was cut, it would mean all activities, athletic and non-athletic would be cut. Superintendent Svee was not sure if it was legal to move the building repairs and maintenance to building reserve. Actual expenditure for comprehensive insurance was $275,000 with the budget this year of $306,000. It would be difficult to fund $275,000 with $106,000 if $200,000 was cut. If activities fees were raised, it would force some students out of activities, but would reduce expenditures. In the elementary district, if thirty FTE were cut, programs would have to be cut such as health, foreign language and some AP classes. If some of those classes were cut, it would mean shorter days for juniors and seniors. Trustee Stroebe suggested the Board let the public know what they were voting for in the mill levy. Superintendent Svee recommended the Board set the amount and let administration come back to the Board with a cut list with comments. The Chair suggested the Board look at the high school district first. A suggestion was made for a mill levy in the high school district be done that would take that district to the cap which is $2,100,000. Trustee Moses stated the District gets a failing grade even if it goes to the cap. She urged the Board members to go for the cap and support the students in the schools. Trustee Stroebe felt the high school principals should be the ones to decide on the cuts. He felt the Board should ask the people for the cap, or at least close to it, to address the needs of our students. Trustee Goodrich stated the public has been asking the District to show some restraint. With the governor’s proposal, we are $215,000 short in the high school district. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion: Motion to request a levy of $700,000 in the high school district. The motion died due to a lack of a second. Trustee Herzog did not believe the District could put more costs on the backs of the taxpayers. She suggested the Board live within its means and make the difficult decisions. Trustee Moses made the following motion with a second by Trustee Stroebe: Motion to request the authority to go to the maximum amount allowed in the high school district of $2,100,000. Superintendent Svee reported the current funding system is based on 1990-91 figures and has not been significantly increased since 1990. It is designed under that bill to transfer the burden of the State to the local taxpayers and has been successful in doing that which has created antagonism. It was never intended to do educationally relevant costs. It was based on average expenditures in various areas, which is why it is unconstitutional. It was cut in December of 1993 by 4% and money was taken away from the districts. Trustee Jarussi agreed it wasn’t fair but it is the system that must be complied with by the District. He felt the District would be all right in the long run as the Supreme Court will stand up to its decision. Trustee Jarussi urged the Board to vote against the motion. Those voting in favor were Karen Moses and Conrad Stroebe. Those opposing were Mike Dimich, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Judith Herzog, Gene Jarussi and Katharin Kelker. The motion failed. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion with a second by Trustee Kelker: Motion for a mill levy in the high school district of $350,000, with the rational in doing so, the projected deficit is $215,000 under the governor’s proposal. Health insurance problem and MPEA issue total $500,000 so $330,000 would have to be cut. Trustee Getz stated the Board has to find a way to live within its means. He felt cuts could be made. Trustee Stroebe reported a mill levy of $900,000 would not be enough to keep up with inflation. Trustee Dimich suggested staff work collaboratively to make cuts. The Chair stated if the Board cannot reach consensus, the mill levy would be at 0. Those voting in favor were Malcolm Goodrich, Katharin Kelker, Karen Moses and Conrad Stroebe. Those opposing were Dale Getz, Mike Dimich, Judith Herzog and Gene Jarussi. The motion failed due to a tie vote. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion with a second by Trustee Stroebe: Motion to rescind a call for a mill levy in the high school district. Those voting in favor were Mike Dimich, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Judith Herzog, Gene Jarussi, Katharin Kelker, and Karen Moses. Conrad Stroebe opposed the motion. The motion passed. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion with a second by Trustee Herzog: Motion to table any further discussion until May any of the cuts in the high school district, after the legislature has ended its session. Those voting in favor were Mike Dimich, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Judith Herzog, Gene Jarussi, Katharin Kelker, Karen Moses and Conrad Stroebe. The motion passed unanimously. Trustees Herzog and Stroebe were excused for the discussion on the elementary budget. The Superintendent reported the legislators have stated they will end the session on April 18 to save days for a special session. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion with a second by Trustee Kelker: Motion to go to the cap in the elementary district for a mill levy for $199,813. Those voting in favor were Katharin Kelker and Malcolm Goodrich. Those opposing were Mike Dimich, Dale Getz, Gene Jarussi, and Karen Moses. The motion failed. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion with a second by Trustee Getz: Motion to rescind a call for a mill levy in the elementary district. Those voting in favor were Mike Dimich, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Gene Jarussi, Katharin Kelker, and Karen Moses. The motion passed unanimously. Trustee Goodrich made the following motion with a second by Trustee Dimich: Motion to defer discussion on the elementary budget cuts until the legislature has met, along with the lines of the high school motion. Those voting in favor were Mike Dimich, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Gene Jarussi, Katharin Kelker, and Karen Moses. The motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Katharin Kelker, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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