USD 408: Board of Education budget up slightly from last year years ago
Sports reporter
Marion-Florence USD 408 general budget will see a slight increase during the 2005-06 school season.
The budget will climb from $3,914,377.90 to $4,132,695,60.
Superintendent Lee Leiker summarized the budget Monday night during the monthly meeting of Marion-Florence USD 408 board of education.
Leiker said despite kindergarten changing to full-time status, each student still would only count as .5 on the full-time equivalent (FTE) scale, but other students still count as one.
The FTE helps determine how much money each school district receives during the year.
Changes across the board on the FTE scale reduced the final number from 1,013.3 last year, to 970.8 this year.
However, Leiker said the total mill rate of 47.21 is slightly down from last year when it stood at 47.3.
Leiker also said the mill has stayed at a consistent basis the past five years, with a variation of only .4 from the highest total to the lowest.
Overall, the increase of $218,317,70 was on the lower end of the scale across the state because of the changes. However, Leiker is optimistic about the budget and happy with its consistent mill levy.
In other news:
— Maintenance on the Marion High School boiler recently was completed by BCS of Wichita.
— The school board will attend a retreat tentatively set for Oct. 1. Everyone on the board agreed it would be helpful, especially for the two new members.
— A snag in the underground sprinkler at MHS football stadium was fixed. The pump on the field was only two horsepower which was not enough for the underground system
For an additional $1,500 a trench will be run from the practice field, which has a 15-hp pump, to the main field in order to complete the system. Superintendent Lee Leiker said the cost is lower than installing a new pump.
If the installation cannot be done before the start of this year's football season, it will not take place until after the season.
— The board unanimously approved two out of district students to attend Marion Middle School.
— Similar to the baseball merger this past season, MHS wrestling will combine forces with Peabody-Burns High School to form a full team.
Expenses will be shared based on percentage of team members. Activities Director Tod Gordon said the two will wrestle as one during the season but, as the case in all individual sports, the two will split up during regional and state competition.
— The board passed both the support staff and staff handbooks.
— Gordon announced 50 MMS students will be participating in football this fall, up from roughly 30 one year ago.
The board approved the hire of Chad Adkins as part-time assistant coach.
