Sean C. Morgan
The School District 55 Budget Committee on Thursday approved a $19.8 million budget, the largest since 2008-09, which will add two new teaching positions, administrative time and improve technological infrastructure and work stations.
Already, on May 21, the Budget Committee voted to set aside up to $20,000 to help restore the school resource officer position should Sweet Home Police Department win a grant for the position.
“Oregon legislators are discussing a stronger investment in K-12 public education,” said Supt. Don Schrader in his budget message last week. “This is good news because over the last three years, the Sweet Home School District has experienced the most difficult funding scenario in recent history. We are encouraged by the news of a more positive financial forecast as we move into this budget season.”
The projected level of funding statewide is $6.55 billion over the 2013-15 biennium, Schrader said. It isn’t optimum, but it is better than past years.
Enrollment appears to be stabilizing and going up due to the district’s new online school and its Access College Today program, he said. “The economy plays a significant role in whether families can stay in the area, but indicators are projecting an improvement.
“These factors, in conjunction with decisions made last year to reduce our budget, have created a situation where we are able to focus on building a budget that addresses our priorities and guides us in our mission to improve instruction, Schrader said.”
This year, the district implemented a four-day school week, reduced staff through attrition, spent reserve funds and significantly cut administration, Schrader said. “As we develop our budget for next year, we feel we are in a better position to focus on areas of need.”
This includes the addition of two new elementary teaching positions, some administrative time at the junior high and high school and investing in technology to enhance learning by improving infrastructure and updating work stations, Schrader said. The budget also will set aside some funds to help pay for a textbook adoption scheduled for 2015, a total estimated cost of $200,000.
The budget assumes that some reform will occur in the Public Employees Retirement System, Schrader said. The PERS rate was scheduled to increase by 5 percent to 29.5 percent of payroll. With the assumed PERS reforms, the district anticipates a 2.5-percent increase in the rate to 27 percent of payroll.
The budget also sets aside funds for costs based on contract negotiations, those already completed and the classified negotiations underway, he said.
“Despite the reductions of the past several years, our educators have worked intensely to help students achieve,” Schrader said. “Students are generally showing growth at all levels, and the district’s dropout rate continues to be below the state average.”
The district’s reserves have been approached the same way as in previous budgets, he said, with 5 percent of the general fund held in contingency for catastrophic, unforeseen circumstances.
The contingency constitutes the district’s ending fund balance for the budget.
The 2013-14 general fund is nearly $2 million larger than 2012-13, $17.9 million. In 2011-12, the district’s actual general fund budget was $18.4 million, and in 2010-11, it was $18.3 million.
All funds for 2013-14, including federal grant programs, miscellaneous state programs, student activities and various other funds, is $31 million, with some $11.2 million outside the general fund.
The district will include 245.93 full-time equivalent employees, including 112.6 licensed, 117.03 classified and 16.3 administrative.
In addition to two new teaching positions, $130,000, to reduce class sizes, the budget also increases special education time at the Sweet Home Charter School by .3 full-time equivalents, at a cost of $20,000.
A junior high teacher on special assignment for administrative duties has been promoted to assistant principal and will oversee the district’s online learning program at a cost of $40,000. A high school teacher similarly working on special assignment has been promoted to assistant principal and will continue to serve as athletic director at a cost of $25,000.
An administrator who oversees the Title I program will be charged entirely to the general fund instead of split between the general fund and the Title I program. That will increase spending in the general fund by $24,000. The change is the result of a reduction in federal funds.
A paid non-student contact day for teachers has been converted into an instructional day in the 2013-14 calendar, a cost of $15,000.
An additional elementary instructional assistant position has been budgeted in case the district experiences enrollment growth in the fall, a cost of $30,000 if filled.
Early retirement stipends for licensed employees will come from the general fund this year instead of the early retirement fund, a cost of $156,000.
Technology improvements include support to upgrade the district’s wireless network and infrastructure improvements at a cost of $30,000.
Cash passing through the district from the state to the Charter School is projected to increase by $250,000.
Property and liability insurance premiums are projected to rise by 15 to 25 percent, probably closer to 15 percent, a cost of $30,000.
The budget includes a 1-percent cost-of-living adjustment plus steps for teachers and administrators. Classified employees will receive step increases.
Total general fund labor costs will increase by $525,000, with PERS accounting for $350,000 of the increase.
Approximately $250,000 is set aside for future textbooks and technology improvements, including upgrading computer labs to meet state testing requirements, upgrading security cameras and a pilot grant program that would allow teachers to acquire classroom-based instructional technology.
The budget includes reductions, including a junior high teaching position based on declining enrollment there. The reduction will be for a teacher who is taking a one-year leave of absence. The savings is about $65,000.
Workers compensation expenses are expected to decrease by $37,000. Unemployment expenses should be lower by $35,000 due to fewer claims.
The district paid off the debt for its most recent set of new buses this year. The final payment was $148,000. Instead, $67,000 will be placed in a school bus acquisition fund, a net savings of $81,000 in next year’s budget.
Voting to approve the budget were Chanz Keeney, Jenny Daniels, Mike E. Adams, Jan Sharp, David VanDerlip, Jason Redick, Dale Keene, Mike Reynolds, Brandell Braatz and Celeste Van Cleave.
Absent during the final vote were Kevin Burger, Edene Rice, Steven Olin, Diane Gerson, Leena Ellis, Teresa Wilson and Mary Sue Reynolds.
The budget moves on to the School Board for adoption on June 3.