Centre approves new budget
District valuation increases by $873,000
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
The board of education of Centre Unified School District #397 approved the 2004-2005 budget at an Aug. 9 hearing at Lost Springs. The budget sets limits on spending authority for the coming year.
The total tax levy for the school district is 46.65 mills, an increase of 2.617. District valuations increased by almost $873,000. Total tax revenue will be $789,749.
The general fund budget of $2,178,346 is based on an estimated enrollment of 261.7 full-time students. It includes state aid and 20 mills of local property tax revenue of $322,723.
The local option budget (LOB) is established at $365,000, down from approximately $375,000 the previous year. This represents 16.76 percent of the 25 percent allowed by law.
The LOB tax rate will increase from 15.03 mills to 18.621. Clerk Peggy Falen said the increase was due to the governor's tax accelerator package enacted by the legislature in the spring of 2003. The $226,320 in new funds will not be received until January.
Capital outlay remains at 4 mills, bringing in a total of $70,098. The budget is set at $227,000.
Bond and interest is down almost one mill from the previous year, at 4.029, a total of $74,816.
District indebtedness as of July 1 was $830,000.
Personnel
The board spent 15 minutes in executive session with Superintendent Bob Kiblinger and Falen to discuss certified staff negotiations.
Upon returning to open session, they moved to table action due to lack of a signed agreement from the teachers' association.
Action on classified staff wages also was tabled pending a ratified agreement with the teachers.
A special meeting has been scheduled for Monday.
The board employed Seth Bishop as an assistant football coach.
In a 6-1 vote, they accepted the resignation of Rose Ybarra from her teachers' aide position, effective Aug. 6. John Garrard voted against acceptance.
Out-of-district attendance was approved for fifth grader Rebecca Perry of Herington and ninth grader Ida Saadon of Florence. Saadon's parents are moving to Ramona.
In other actions, the board:
— accepted the donation of a Kimball electric organ to the music department by Gail and Marissa Makovec.
— approved purchase of a metered water softener for the district house at a cost not to exceed $2,000. The resident will reimburse the district $500 annually for three years, and the district will provide yearly maintenance. The 5-2 vote recorded Jesse Brunner and Mark Heiser in opposition.
— rescinded the cancer insurance policy from Hartford Life and approved an American International Group policy provided through Security Benefit Life Insurance Co.
— appointed Paul Longhofer and Robert Vohs as special education due process hearing officers for the upcoming school term.
Reports
Superintendent Kiblinger reported bus inspections went well. He praised former transportation director Warren Barton for his assistance during a director vacancy in July.
Kiblinger announced the district will use bus driver drug-testing services provided by Greenbush for $20 a month.
Board member Jesse Brunner reported on a Kansas Association of School Boards seminar he attended.
President Clark Davis presented a boardsmanship award to Leona Hajek.
Kiblinger reported that seniors who took the ACT test scored above the national average in all areas.
"Our kids are doing well," he said.
