School/Community Committee Meeting, May 8, 2006

[Marta McAllister]

Proceeding of the School/Community Committee Meeting

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

May 8, 2006

 

 

Call to Order

A joint meeting of the School/Community Committee, Education Committee, and Business Committee was held at Lincoln Center, 415 N 30th St., Billings, Montana on Monday, May 8, 2006. The meeting was called to order by Katharin Kelker at 6:05 pm.

 

Members Present:

School/Community Committee: Karen Moses, Mary Jo Fox, Dawn Achten, Carol Wicker, Gail Surwill, Tom Willis, Mike Hughes, Molly Holt, Jim Hartung, Shauna Kerr, Sandra Mammenga, Jay Kirk, and Jan McCandless.

 

Business Committee: Jerry Hansen, Joel Guthals, Shanna Henry, Jerome Chvilicek, Joan Sleeth, Katharin Kelker, Kari Altenburg, Dale Getz, Tim Cranston, and Peter Grass.

 

Education Committee: Conrad Stroebe, Malcolm Goodrich, Sandy Mossman, Margaret Aukshun, Dave Cobb, Kyle Colling, Patty Fain, Kip Farnum, Shaun Harrington, Ellen Hilde, Brett Jette, Kathy Olson.

 

Call to the Public

No one addressed the Committees at this time.

 

Budget FY 2006-2007

 

There was discussion regarding the recommended cuts listed on the worksheet from the April 8, 2006 Board work session to balance the budget.

 

Thomas Harper explained the budget shortfall at both the elementary and high school levels. The high school level has a greater shortfall. Trustee Kelker explained some savings from the list that can be made such as homebound transportation money can be allocated from somewhere other than general funds. Some FTE reading teachers can be moved into At-Risk or Achievement Gap money. Trustee Kelker explained some items were proposed new budgets items, not items that were in place and will be cut, such as a safety officer, in-house lawyer, computer technicians, sub-pay increase, etc.

 

The elimination of Crossroads Alternative High School would save the district $680,000 and is one of the biggest cuts considered. There was discussion regarding cuts to staff and the possibility of eliminating classes with enrollment of fewer than 18 students.

 

The Trustees and Committee members asked administrators to provide additional information regarding such items as revenue and the effects the proposed cuts will have at the schools.

 

There was discussion regarding funds received from the state earmarked for designated purposes such as Indian Education for All, At-Risk students, and deferred maintenance.

 

There was clarification regarding the textbook fund. It was explained fifty thousand dollars was additional money to be used for new textbooks, not cuts to the current textbook fund.

It was explained one hundred thousand dollars would be cut from the middle school activities budget that was designated for repairs and maintenance.

 

It was noted that the district will continue to be out of compliance with state standards if the proposed additional counselor and librarian are not hired at the elementary level.

 

It was reported the district has received 46 retirement notifications and 18 resignations to date.

 

There was discussion regarding concern over the precariously low reserves at the high school level which are now less than one percent and will be lower next year if a budget amendment is needed and the Board does not replenish the funds. The budget should at least have a five percent in reserves in order to secure a favorable Bond rating.

 

For the remainder of the meeting members discussed recommended cuts and submitted written ideas to the trustees as they left the session.

 

The next scheduled meeting is June 12, 2006. The Committee members will meet in the Board Room located in the Lincoln Center, at 415 N 30th at 6:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________ ___________________________________

Katharin Kelker, Chairperson Brenda Cross, Recorder