The Hector School Board Monday night adopted a budget for 2003-2004 that involved some “belt-tightening” because of decreased revenue from the state.
Superintendent Eric Armour told the board that the district will get $157,153 less from the state because the district lost about 25 students last year and state funds are based on the enrollment for the year before.
The school gets $54,000 to $58,000 per student, Armour said. He said the school also lost money by having fewer students below the poverty level in kindergarten and first grade.
Armour said he will end the year with a lower balance as part of the cuts. In answer to a question, he said the cuts came from various places in supplies and services, because salaries can’t be cut.
The total budget includes spending of $4,477,153.73, which is $200,000 more than revenue.
Armour said enrollment is back up this year, with about 707 students. With a large kindergarten class, he expects state revenue to be back up for the 04-05 school year.
Expenditures include $2,114,456 for salaries, $1,644,683 for operating expense and $279,800 for debt service.
Rena Taylor, elementary principal, reported that elementary enrollment increased from 348 at the end of last year to 361. The largest classes are kindergarten at 62 and sixth grade at 59.
Taylor also reported the she is plans to have a teacher of the year selected, to compete for state teacher of the year. Nominations will be accepted from students, parents and the community.
Taylor also said she expected approval of the Indian Education Grant (Title VII) within the next 60 days. It is for four years and totals $157,740 and will be used for technology improvements in the elementary school and a small percentage of the grant must be used for instruction in Native American customs, crafts and beliefs.
Community center land
The board also discussed a problem involving leasing a half-acre of land for use as a community center. Some citizens had planned to move the former American Legion building to the land for use as a senior center and other purposes.
The plan had been to lease it cheaply, but Board President Darwin Barnhouse reported that he had a letter from a School Boards Association attorney that the property had to be leased or sold for market value under state law.
After a discussion with some visitors at the meeting, the board decided to have a committee meeting Tuesday at 6 after Director Don Freeman got a state attorney general’s opinion to see if the board had other options. The board and Superintendent Armour indicated that they want to lease the land for a lower amount.
Personnel actions
All board members were present, including President Darwin Barnhouse, Don Freeman, Gary Newport, Lynn Millsaps, and Tony Nichols. In other actions the board:
