Approval of a timeline regarding proposed budget reductions and general fund adjustments, approval of the annual resolution directing the administration to make recommendations in reductions to programs and positions, a preliminary analysis of the district transportation system and a presentation on the revised FY 2015 and preliminary FY 2016 budgets were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Becker Board of Education Monday night.

 

The board also approved a cooperative agreement for the Becker-Big Lake girl’s lacrosse programs and set the official meeting time for the coming year.

 

In the approved general fund adjustment timeline, teacher meetings are currently underway between staff in each building and Supt. Dr. Stephen Malone, and a community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 12) in the teaching and learning center at BHS.

 

The administration will consider input from community and staff meetings in preparing budget recommendations through Feb. 19, and the recommendations will be presented to the school board Feb. 20.  The FY 2016 budget will be presented for school board approval at the March 9 regular board meeting. (See attached chart for budget details.)

 

The language in the approved reduction resolution states that the “financial condition of the school district dictates that the school board must consider reducing expenditures immediately,” and “That the School Board hereby directs the Superintendent of Schools and administration to consider the discontinuance of programs or positions to effectuate economies in the school district and reduce expenditures and, as a result of a potential reduction in enrollment, make recommendations to the school board for the discontinuance of programs, curtailment of programs, discontinuance of positions or curtailment of positions.”

 

A document presented by the administration also outlined measures that would result in a projected increase of $295,400 in funding to the district through a combination of expense reductions and revenue increases. The proposal outlines a $155,400 savings through the adjustment of teacher preparation times in line with current contract language, a reduction of a second grade teaching position at $60,000 and savings of $20,000 from building and grounds and transportation programs to be determined later, which would total $235,400 in cost savings.  A further $50,000 revenue increase would be achieved by maximizing transportation revenues, with a further $10,000 in revenue coming from increases in activity fees.

 

In his budget presentation, Business Manager Joe Prom stated that the projected expense estimates were lower than actual expenses due to several factors, including unsettled contracts and health and safety expenditures.  In his report, Malone stated the FY 2015 unassigned general fund balance is projected to be 2.4 per cent, contrasted with the district policy which calls for a minimum unassigned general fund balance of eight per cent of the annual budget.  The FY 2016 fund balance is projected to be 1.5 per cent, if no changes are made to current expenditures.

 

The board also heard a preliminary report from Tom Watson of Watson Consulting Group, which had been hired last November to conduct an analysis of the district transportation program.  The report stated that the district would not be able to reduce costs by subcontracting transportation services in the near term, but that the district should monitor ongoing costs to be able to determine if subcontracting is an option for the future.  Watson was able to assist the district in modifying transportation finance reporting, which resulted in the $50,000 listed previously.  An “optimal non-driving staff configuration” will be developed for the district in the coming months, the report concluded, which would be effective as of July 1.

 

Board Member Mark Swanson stated that the district is approaching a “tipping point” in its finances, and that the district may have to consider “radical changes and cuts” in the near future.  Board Member Bryan Olson said that in his view the “bleeding has stopped” due to the reductions already made by the administration in recent years.

 

 

Following the meeting, Malone said that he expects specific reduction recommendations to be completed and ready for presentation to the board at the April regular meeting.

 

The complete text of Prom’s budget reports and Watson’s transportation analysis are available in the school board meeting packet entry on the district web site.

 

The board approved a resolution establishing a cooperative with the Big Lake School District for girls’ lacrosse.  Two girls from Big Lake will pay their school activity fee, and Becker will bill a share of the program costs back to the Big Lake district.  There will be no additional cost to Becker under this agreement, which is expected to be approved by the Big Lake school board later this month. 

 

Malone reported that the TRAK Program (Together Raising Area Kids) is marking its one-year anniversary. The organization includes parents, students, school staff and area health and safety representatives. By-laws were approved in January, and officers will be elected this month.

 

The Sherburne County Substance Use Prevention Coalition was recently awarded a grant from the Drug Free Community (DFC) program which will bring $125,000 per year over five years to implement research-based strategies to curb substance abuse.  Malone cited BHS Asst. Principal Mark Kolbinger for his work as the district representative on the coalition.