Business Committee April 10, 2006

[Guest sullinss]

Proceedings of the Business Committee

School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

April 10, 2006

 

Call to Order

 

The Regular Meeting 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 Monday, April 10, 2006. Chair Dale Getz called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. Committee members present were K. Dale Getz, Katharin Kelker, Jerome Chvilicek, Joel Guthals, Jerry Hansen, Joan Sleeth, Kari Altenburg, Shanna Henry, Peter Grass, and Curt Prchal. Absent were members Tim Cranston, and Randy Durr. Also present were Rich Whitney, and Dave Williams.

 

Communication From the Public

 

No one wished to address the Committee.

 

Agenda Items

 

Chair Getz stated Item B, Administrative Support Salary Proposal, and Item C, Administrative Salary were withdrawn from the agenda by COLT for discussion.

 

Consent Agenda

 

Jerry Hansen moved to recommend Board approval of Consent Agenda items as follows:

1. Special Business Committee Minutes of March 09, 2006

2. Regular Business Committee Minutes of March 13, 2006

3. Sub-Committee Minutes of March 24, 2006

4. Special Business Committee Minutes of March 27, 2006

5. Addition of Jason Open House ECA Account at Lewis & Clark MS

Katharin Kelker seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Superintendent Search

 

Bob Vogel, MTSBA, made a presentation to the Board on how the Superintendent search could be conducted. They have proposed to conduct this search for an estimated $6,500.

 

Katharin Kelker moved to recommend the Board hire MTSBA to help us conduct a Superintendent search for approximately $6,500. Shanna Henry seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Newman Elementary Reroof – 2006

 

As previously approved on the Elementary Building Reserve 2005-06 Project List, a bid was let for the Newman Elementary Reroof -2006 Project. Facilities recommends the project be awarded to low bidder Commercial Roofing for $267,700.

 

Joel Guthals moved to recommend the Board award the Newman Elementary Reroof-2006 Project bid to low bidder Commercial Roofing for $267,700. Peter Grass seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Wendy’s Field at Daylis Stadium Artificial Turf Project – 2006

 

Bids have been received from SPRINTURF as contractor for the entire turf project. All funding is from private donations. They have over $200k in donations and in-kind services above the turf project that can be used for bathrooms, concession stands, etc.

 

Joel Guthals moved to recommend the Board award the bid for Wendy’s Field Artificial Turf Project to SPRINTURF not to exceed $750,200 provided that cash and in-kind contributions meet or exceed this amount. Katharin Kelker seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Additional Elementary FTE

 

It is requested that Angie Gray’s FTE be increased by .1 to meet the additional needs of the students at Ponderosa Elementary through the 2005-06 school year. It will be funded by the Comprehensive School Reform Grant. Kathy Olson explained this would allow two resource teachers to have prep time.

 

Katharin Kelker moved to recommend the Board approve the increase of .1 FTE under the funding of the Comprehensive School Reform Grant at Ponderosa School for this school year only. Joel Guthals seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Temporary Certified Summer Employees for Rewards

 

Kathy Olson explained because of the hiring freeze, this is a request to advertise to hire 7 part-time temporary certified summer employees to act as Academic Coaches in our Rewards Summer Program at Bench, Broadwater, and McKinley Elementary Schools, starting May 30, 2006 and ending July 13, 2006. Funds will come from the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant.

 

Joan Sleeth moved to recommend the Board approve the hiring of 7 part-time, temporary certified summer employees to be paid for from the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant. Katharin Kelker seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Elementary Site Positions

 

Kathy Olson requests permission to advertise and interview for an elementary site administrator position that was vacated as a result of a retirement.

 

Joel Guthals moved to recommend the Board grant the School District administration permission to advertise and interview for K-6 elementary site administration as a result of a retirement. Katharin Kelker seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Kathy Olson asked for permission to move an elementary administrator from one site to another for the 2006-2007 school year. Katharin Kelker related the Board said not to move a central office administrator to a site location without Board knowledge because of the differential in salaries, but did not include moving administrators from site to site. Chair Getz stated this was not an item for this Committee.

 

Middle School Site Position

 

Permission is requested to interview for a middle school site administrator position that was vacated as a result of a retirement.

 

Katharin Kelker moved to recommend the Board grant permission to interview for a middle school site administrator position vacated as a result of a retirement. Peter Grass seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Health Insurance – Financial Statements – February, 2006

 

The Balance Sheet and Statement of Revenue & Expenditures for February, 2006 is prepared by the Business Office and is presented to the Committee for review. The reserves are down slightly from January’s balance.

 

 

 

 

 

Bills Paid – March, 2006 (summary sheet)

 

Jerry questioned the small amount of phone bills paid from the Flex Fund. Jerry also questioned why the payment to Public Strategies was paid only from the 115 fund and not shared by the 215 fund. These questions will be referred to Thomas Harper.

 

Joel Guthals moved to recommend Board approval of the bills paid for March, 2006. Katharin Kelker seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Financial Reports – March, 2006 (Unaudited)

 

The Committee reviewed the unaudited Financial Reports for March, 2006. Jerry requested to see expenses reported for Funds 115 and 215.

 

Budget Scenarios FY2006-07

 

Chair Getz reported much work has been done the last few weeks on budgets culminating in a productive day-long session last Saturday. The Elementary and High School budgets FY2006-07 were reviewed. Budget shortfalls were identified and a list of items was developed that could potentially be used to balance the budget without a favorable mill levy vote and also developed some items that could be considered for the mill levy. Chair Getz requested the sub-committee to meet Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. to fine-tune this list of items.

 

General Fund Reserves

 

Chair Getz reported we anticipate a budget amendment of $676K in the Elementary General Fund which will draw down the reserves to the $2.9M level. If we want to restore the reserves to the level they were at on 06/30/05 we need to have an additional $877,244. The High School General Fund with a budget amendment of $620K will drop down to $432K. If we want to restore the reserves to the 5-8% range we need to have an additional $1.2M.

 

Committee members believe we need to establish an action plan to build reserves. Draft budget and financial procedures were attached for review.

 

Other Business

 

At the last Business Committee meeting, it was recommended the Board appoint a sub-committee drawn from the three standing Committees to develop alternatives for a potential Young Families location. Chair Getz designated Business Committee member Kari Altenburg for Board consideration to that sub-committee.

 

Adjournment

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

 

 

 

 

K. Dale Getz, Chair

 

 

 

 

Sherrill Sullins, Recorder