October 26, 2006

By Virgil Hervey

In a joint presentation at the school board meeting Oct. 12, Yellow Springs Schools Treasurer Joy Kitzmiller and Superintendent Tony Armocida told the board that the current school year deficit is projected to be $264,000, and at the current rate of deficit spending, the Yellow Springs schools would reach a negative cash balance by the 2009–2010 fiscal year. The prediction came as part of the five-year forecast, which is mandated to be made twice a year.

Board members are considering putting on the May ballot a renewal property tax levy of 9.4 mills, according to Armocida this week. Armocida emphasized that the renewal levy would not increase local property tax rates, but would keep rates the same.

The three-year property tax levy provides about $1,060,000 annually for the local schools, Armocida said.

However, before putting a levy renewal before the voters, the schools will take cost-cutting measures, Armocida said.

“We’re trying to be socially responsible and make cuts before we ask the community for more,” he said. Armocida said he will be meeting soon with school administrators and staff to consider possible cost-cutting measures.

Those measures include increasing class sizes, and cutting programs and support staff, Armocida said. According to Kitzmiller, the current payroll is around $500,000.

The district hopes to reduce costs in the 2007-2008 school year by about $200,000 in order to keep the district budget balanced, Armocida said. While the school system has a surplus of $3.5 million due to a one-time company reorganization, it could spend down the surplus in several years and wants to avoid doing so, he said.

The board approved the five-year forecast as presented and agreed on a timeline to conduct a budget analysis and recommendations, decide whether to seek renewal of the emergency levy in May, 2007; and to conduct a levy campaign.

In other school board business:

• The board agreed to study the request of community member Rebecca Morean to allow home-schooled children in grades one to eight to attend school for one hour per day.

• The board heard from McKinney School PTO Chair Barbara Collins-Stratton, who reported that the PTO was starting a volleyball tournament, involving parents, teachers and students.

• John Hempfling, a member of the high school’s Student Review Board, requested a change in procedures to allow for changes in the Review Board’s operating rules throughout the school year instead of only in May when the new student handbook is drafted. He was referred to Principal John Gudgel.

• The board approved the following appropriation additions and modifications for fiscal year 2007: Ohio Reads coordinator, $2,000; Ohio BWC Trans Work grant, $3,000; Beautify MLS PTO donation, $600; gifted funds, $1,426.50; archery grant, $1,000.

The board approved one-year limited contracts for Mills Lawn School Reading Intervention tutors for two hours per day, five days a week, not to exceed 120 days at $25 per hour, not to exceed $6,000 aggregate for the 2006–2007 school year for Jo Frannye Reichert and Lillian Slaughter.

• The board approved Paula Cordell as Community Volunteer coordinator for the Mills Lawn School Ohio Reads program at a stipend of $2,000 for the 2006–2007 school year.

• The board approved Christine Price as the after school enrichment coordinator at a stipend of $2,000 for the 2006–2007 school year.

• The board approved the following persons as substitutes for the 2006–2007 school year: Pam Dapore, teacher ($70/day, $35/half-day); John Robey, teacher; Dione Greenberg, teacher; Mary Jo Richlen, teacher; Matthew Boyles, teacher; Dione Greenberg, aide ($11.01/hour); Mariana Patton, custodian ($11.01/hour).

• The board approved the following persons for one-year co-curricular contracts for the 2006–2007 school year: Robin Fast, high school Student Council co-advisor ($606.50); Pam Stephens, high school Student Council co-advisor ($606.50); MacKenzie Reynolds, Local Professional Development Committee ($25/hour up to $800); Shawn Jackson, Local Professional Development Committee ($25/hour up to $800); Kevin O’Brien, Student Assistance Team ($1,213); Sarah Lowe, Student Assistance Team ($1,213); Vickie Hitchcock, Student Assistance Team ($1,213); Robin Fast, Student Assistance Team ($1,213).

• The board approved the following qualified area persons to one-year co-curricular contracts for the 2006–2007 school year: Judy Parker, seventh grade volleyball coach ($1,136); Andrea Auten, fall play director ($1,420); Jill Wells, play director (One Acts) ($1,420); Paul Comstock, girls head basketball coach ($2,934); Tiffany Newman, eighth-grade girls basketball coach ($1,136); Jack Gaul, seventh-grade girls basketball coach ($1,136).

• The board approved an adjustment of the McKinney football stipend from $568 to $852 for the 2005–2006 school year for Jake Fulton and Craig McCann.

• The board approved reimbursement payments in lieu of transportation for the 2006–2007 school year to Rosemary Shaw for Jeremiah Shaw, and Mary Smith for Samuel Holman-Smith to Nightingale Montessori in Springfield; and Rebecca Danis for Luke Danis to St. Luke School in Beavercreek.

• Armocida reported that there had been a meeting with the police department and fire department and others to revise the crisis response plan. New elements have to be added as the federal government has new requirements. Lock-down, evacuation, and fire drills are required, however, under the law, the specifics cannot be discussed with the public.

• The board approved a first reading of the Eligibility of Resident/Non-Resident Students.

• The following policies were presented for board review: a Declaration Regarding Material Assistance/Non Assistance to a Terrorist Organization; School Safety; Emergency Situations at Schools; Pandemics and Other Medical Emergencies; Bioterrorism; and the awarding of High School Diplomas to World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict Veterans.

• Richard Bullock reported that the superintendent search committee’s community forums were well under way and several more were planned. He said that detailed information about upcoming forums can be found on the Yellow Springs Schools Web site.

• The second school board meeting of the month was cancelled.

Contact: vhervey@ysnews.com