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Sheldon R-8 board sets new budget
For most of us, the time to take stock of the old and look ahead to the new is in December; for school districts, that time is now.
Meeting in the school library at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, the Sheldon R-8 board began with a brief closed session for personnel matters and went on to review and finalize the 2016-17 budget and discussed and approved the 2017-18 budget.
This past year was the first for Jason Irwin as superintendent, Carolyn Compton as principal and Devin While as assistant principal although Irwin and Compton have been with the district for a number of years.
A review of the 2016-17 budget led to mention of such visible changes as the bright white walls down the main hallways, the revamped shower rooms and the new flag pole outside waving a donated flag which had previously flown atop the Missouri state capitol building.
After approving the final fund transfers, the document was changed from being the amended to the actual (final) budget.
The new budget, which begins on Saturday, includes a three percent increase for all classified staff at a cost of approximately $5,300.
Reading from the message he attached to the proposed budget, Irwin said, “I have included steps for all certified personnel at a cost of approximately $8,100 and adding $500 to the base of the certified salary schedule at a cost of approximately $13,200.”
The total cost for raises will be about $24,600.
He pointed out that while the cost to teachers for health insurance will rise six percent, the proposed raises will largely cover that increased cost.
If there is a simple or key measure of a school district’s financial health it comes by looking at what is called the “unrestricted ending fund balance.” When a particular year’s number, which is reported to the state each year by Aug. 15 and publicly available, is compared over some five or more previous years, an overall picture emerges of the district’s financial well-being.
While there are school boards and superintendents who feel more comfortable carrying a higher surplus, some taxpayers resent boards using their tax money to maintain a sizable bank balance instead of using it to address genuine needs.
While medium and larger districts might prefer this ending percentage to be in the 20s, smaller districts have fewer and smaller reserves with which to meet emergencies and so often prefer to keep this number in the 30s.
As proposed, Sheldon’s 2016-17 budget was set to end the year with an unrestricted fund balance at 21.85 percent while for the 2017-18 budget it is 33.08 percent. The district’s goal is 20 percent.
The two largest capital improvements to be made this summer will be to floors. In the building’s elementary areas, all carpeting is being removed; the building has concrete floors.
The hallways will receive white tile to match that in the high school area while the room floors are being sanded, sealed, waxed and buffed to a high shine.
Irwin recruited and worked as part of a team of 10 staff, administrators and students to help get the carpet removal underway.
The gym floor, which has darkened due to its many coats of finish will be sanded, striped and coated by the same firm used last year at the Northeast Vernon County R-1 district. Gym floor work will begin July 5 and will, said Irwin, take between two and three weeks to be complete.
The superintendent said he had set aside funds for replacement of several heaters which date from 1991.
Board member Paul Sprenkle opened the meeting by asking whether now is the time to go into debt in order to pave the parking lot.
“Unless we want to do something with the driveway, I don’t foresee any other big projects,” said Irwin.
The proposed 2017-18 budget was approved.
Following the meeting, in his office, Irwin was asked to reflect on his initial year leading the district. He said, “I think my first year as superintendent went well; it was a huge learning curve.”
Irwin was grateful for the help he received from superintendents of area districts who provided help with managing programs, recording items and handling personnel matters. Since he knew the district and its people, Irwin thought the most challenging part of the job was having to stay in his office to do paperwork.
“I’m not one who likes to sit in the office; I like to move around,” said Irwin. “But being a superintendent I’ve learned you have to be deadline oriented and meet all of them.”
After having attended a number of regional and statewide meetings, Irwin said he had heard enough horror stories to make him all the more grateful for the harmony as well as the caring and involvement shown by the school board.
“But don’t tell them that,” said Irwin with a laugh. “They might demand a raise.”
He went on to praise local Parent-Teacher Organization president, Mandy Swink, for putting together a team of volunteers who came in for a work day. The group cleaned out flower beds and painted bathrooms. After all the work on the various floors is complete, Swink and volunteers are set for an August day of cleaning, in preparation for the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Reflecting once more on his job, Irwin said, “I just love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else in the world. I like getting my hands dirty, so this summer time work doesn’t bother me. I love to mow. I love to tear stuff up. I’m not good at putting stuff back together but that’s why we hire people to do that.”
And as to his title, the superintendent said, “I’m just a regular person and I don’t want people to look at me any different.”
And with that, Irwin left the office and joined several others in pulling up more carpet.