Board makes cuts to help balance budget

By Jolene FarleyThe Hills-Beaver Creek School Board passed budget cuts and fee increases at a Monday meeting taking a $112,750 bite out of the projected $150,000 budget shortfall for the 2004-05 school year."Our goal — my goal — is to try to balance the budget as simply and painlessly as we can, but there is always pain in cuts," Superintendent Dave Deragisch said.Board member Lloyd DeBoer thanked the finance committee for their work, reminding everyone that budget decisions are "always tough."The only difference to the proposed cut list shown to the board at a Monday, April 26, meeting was a cut to $10,000 from $15,000 for a reduction in office personnel. In their vote, the board combined short-term and long-term cuts and didn’t designate them either way.But in a handout from Deragisch, $80,850 of the cuts were designated permanent and $31,900 were designated temporary.Deragisch advised the board to address the cuts and fee increases during Monday’s meeting and a possible referendum levy could be discussed at a later meeting.He passed out an analysis of tax impact of a referendum levy for the board to study before further discussion.Cuts and fee increases passed by the board:
Decrease requisitions by $15,000 by delaying the purchase of new science textbooks,
Decrease office supplies use by $1,500.
Reduce the staff development budget by 67 percent or $8,400.
Reduce school board staff development (travel and education) by $2,000.
Reduce the computer budget by $5,000.
Reduce the substitute teacher budget by $1,000.
Raise lunch prices by 10 cents to add $4,500 in revenue.
Reduce the Learning Readiness budget by $3,000.
Raise driver’s education fees from $150 per student to $180 and increase revenues by $600.
Eliminate the high school early morning coverage. Deragisch or Dean of Students Steve Wiertzema will cover to save $1,500.oReduce office personnel to save $10,000.
Reduce a teacher position to save $20,000.
Eliminate extended computer coordinator contract for a savings of $2,250
Raise athletic fees from $20 to $30 per activity with a $100 maximum per family to increase revenues by $1,500.
Raise Community Education fees to increase revenues by $2,000.
Increase facility use fees by 25 percent to raise $1,500.
Attrition (retirements) will decrease expenses by $30,000.
Reducing bus use (including using smaller vehicles, possible coach drivers, charging more for Little Patriot and Learning Readiness busing) will reduce expenses by $3,000.Mental Health School Social WorkerOver the last year, the Hills-Beaver Creek and Luverne school districts and Rock County Family Services have discussed implementing a mental health school social worker to serve both school districts and work collaboratively with children’s mental health services provided by Rock County.The board voted to serve as the employer of record for the position. Wages will be paid for by State Special Education funds (68 percent of salary) and County Children’s Mental Health funds. The board agreed to provide phone service, computer, fax, office space, etc. for the employee. The Rock County Board will advance about $20,000 a year to the district to cover a two year delay in special education reimbursement payments from the state. In personnel …Angie Blasmo was rehired at $23,205 as the Little Patriot, Early Childhood Family Education and School Readiness teacher, a .7 position. Jason Blasmo was hired as half-time fifth-grade teacher and half-time high school industrial arts teacher at $33,150. Deragisch read a letter of resignation from band director Brent Steinert, who is pursuing graduate studies in a different state.The .5 art position currently filled by retiring Gregg Ebert and a .75 high school special education position still need to be filled.