Bus. Sub-Comm. Minutes - March 02, 2006

[Guest sullinss]

Proceedings of the Business committee

School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

March 02, 2006

 

The Sub-Committee of the Business Committee of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County and High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana met at Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana on Thursday, March 02, 2006. Chair Dale Getz called the meeting to order at 3:39 p.m. Sub-Committee members present were K. Dale Getz, Peter Grass, Jerry Hansen, Shanna Henry, Tim Cranston, and Curt Prchal. Also present was Business Manager Thomas Harper.

 

The purpose of the meeting was to continue the discussion on the budgeting process for this coming year 2006-2007. Curt revised the model of Requisite Expenditure Blocks required by state accreditation standards and Discretionary Expenditure Blocks as decided by the local school district. The Requisite Expenditure Blocks (Building Operations, Classroom Support, Classroom Teachers, Education Programs, and District Support Operations) were expanded by accreditation requirements to show classroom size, FTE required and some support assumptions. Curt had OPI review the accreditation list for any amendments to their rules OPI may have made in January 2005. Accreditation standards within the Administrative Rules of Montana have identified content areas for requisite educational programs offerings at the elementary and secondary level. K-12 level school districts are required to maintain present programs that meet content and performance standards within content areas of: reading, math, science, technology, PE & health enhancement, communication/language arts, world languages, social studies, arts, and vocational/technical education.

 

Shanna prepared spreadsheets from the budget to cost out most of K-6 and some Gr 7-8 current programs. The spreadsheet brings to light the impressive job the District has done to provide excellent programs for students. She also gathered class size and some FTE information for the middle and high schools.

 

Much discussion was held concerning the importance of listing all costs to be able to determine cost/benefit and the difficulty of separating requisite from discretionary requirements. Dale believes we need to determine costs at “site” level so we can distinguish “other teaching staff” but still as part of site level costs. The freeze levels and retirements were discussed along with the need to set a strategy of combining areas or reallocating responsibilities.

 

Thomas will cost the base requisite items for the Monday, March 6th meeting. The sub-committee would also like to see the revenue sources overlaid on top of the costs. A request was made to also overlay the overall FTE of staff and students in each base item. Curt and Tim will craft a better model of the items for the Board and ultimately for the public.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

K. Dale Getz, Chair

 

 

 

 

Sherrill Sullins, Recorder