District notes Skinner and Sanders
Thursday, August 28, 2008
He’s a face which was familiar for years at the Farmington Middle School. Even after retirement from administrative roll he’s still a welcomed sight for students and faculty.
Former principal Jack Skinner was recognized during Tuesday evening’s Farmington R-7 Board of Education meeting as the August 2008 Heartland Hero award recipiant. Administrator Dorothy Winslow did the honors in presenting Skinner with his plaque.
It was said that Skinner served the Middle School well during his time with the district, and has continued to serve as a substitute teacher and in many volunteer opportunities in his retirement.
Then Winslow made another presentation, announcing Rhonda Sanders as the August Feature Teacher. Sanders, a math teacher, was noted for her exceptional work at the Middle School.
The meeting continued with board members hearing a long list of reports. The group approved lighting bids for the high school parking lot “D” at Hyler Street, and learned that there will now be two concession stands at football games.
The existing concessions area will be operated by band boosters and will service the visitors seated on the east side of the field. A new concession stand located on the west side of the field will service the “home” crowd seated in new bleachers on the west side of Jack Richardson Field.
New parking and seating has been installed on the west side of the football field, and will be ready for the season’s opening game.
There will also be a change in the way substitute teachers are contracted for the district. The change, it was explained, will deal primarily with the wording used in agreements between the district and “qualified” substitute instructors.
A major focus during Tuesday evening’s meeting was the budget. Finance Director Don Eaton laid out a plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
Eaton told how the district is looking at a spending plan which includes $32.5 million in revenue and $39.1 in expenses, resulting in a $6.6 million deficit on paper. However, he was quick to explain that there is still $5.8 million on hand waiting to be spent this year on construction projects. That $5.8 million accounts for most of the $6.6 million on the expense side of the budget ... yet the money is already in district coffers.
The finance director went on to explain two other budget shortfalls and what impact, if any, they could have on the district. He said the spending plans reflects a $300,000 deficit in debt service, and a $500,000 deficit in the operating fund.
In turn, he explained how the district historically budgets projected revenues very conservative at the start of the fiscal year. Traditionally the district has then seen increases in property tax assessments within the district which translates into more revenue, and has often had the state’s foundation formula — which determines the state funds provided per child in the district — come in better than expected. Both things combined have resulted in ending years in a much better position than first budgeted months earlier.
Eaton was realistic in explaining how it’s estimated property assessment growth within the district will not grow this year as much as in year’s past. That could keep eventual revenues from reaching the annual increases as seen in past years. As for the operating budget, it was said that fuel costs alone in the district have doubled in the past couple years.
But still, Eaton explained, the district patrons and board members can rest assured the school district is in a good position considering the current economic climate. Several years ago the district began building up operating reserves in anticipation of a downturn. Because of that move, there is about $6.9 million in operating reserves at this time.
In the worst case scenario, Eaton said, the property tax assessment growth in the district’s area would come in with a lesser increase than in past years, or the state’s foundation formula would result in fewer dollars per student once that formula is finally determined this year. In that case the district would have to tap into reserves — but then again only a minute portion of what is available.
Former principal Jack Skinner was recognized during Tuesday evening’s Farmington R-7 Board of Education meeting as the August 2008 Heartland Hero award recipiant. Administrator Dorothy Winslow did the honors in presenting Skinner with his plaque.
It was said that Skinner served the Middle School well during his time with the district, and has continued to serve as a substitute teacher and in many volunteer opportunities in his retirement.
Then Winslow made another presentation, announcing Rhonda Sanders as the August Feature Teacher. Sanders, a math teacher, was noted for her exceptional work at the Middle School.
The meeting continued with board members hearing a long list of reports. The group approved lighting bids for the high school parking lot “D” at Hyler Street, and learned that there will now be two concession stands at football games.
The existing concessions area will be operated by band boosters and will service the visitors seated on the east side of the field. A new concession stand located on the west side of the field will service the “home” crowd seated in new bleachers on the west side of Jack Richardson Field.
New parking and seating has been installed on the west side of the football field, and will be ready for the season’s opening game.
There will also be a change in the way substitute teachers are contracted for the district. The change, it was explained, will deal primarily with the wording used in agreements between the district and “qualified” substitute instructors.
A major focus during Tuesday evening’s meeting was the budget. Finance Director Don Eaton laid out a plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
Eaton told how the district is looking at a spending plan which includes $32.5 million in revenue and $39.1 in expenses, resulting in a $6.6 million deficit on paper. However, he was quick to explain that there is still $5.8 million on hand waiting to be spent this year on construction projects. That $5.8 million accounts for most of the $6.6 million on the expense side of the budget ... yet the money is already in district coffers.
The finance director went on to explain two other budget shortfalls and what impact, if any, they could have on the district. He said the spending plans reflects a $300,000 deficit in debt service, and a $500,000 deficit in the operating fund.
In turn, he explained how the district historically budgets projected revenues very conservative at the start of the fiscal year. Traditionally the district has then seen increases in property tax assessments within the district which translates into more revenue, and has often had the state’s foundation formula — which determines the state funds provided per child in the district — come in better than expected. Both things combined have resulted in ending years in a much better position than first budgeted months earlier.
Eaton was realistic in explaining how it’s estimated property assessment growth within the district will not grow this year as much as in year’s past. That could keep eventual revenues from reaching the annual increases as seen in past years. As for the operating budget, it was said that fuel costs alone in the district have doubled in the past couple years.
But still, Eaton explained, the district patrons and board members can rest assured the school district is in a good position considering the current economic climate. Several years ago the district began building up operating reserves in anticipation of a downturn. Because of that move, there is about $6.9 million in operating reserves at this time.
In the worst case scenario, Eaton said, the property tax assessment growth in the district’s area would come in with a lesser increase than in past years, or the state’s foundation formula would result in fewer dollars per student once that formula is finally determined this year. In that case the district would have to tap into reserves — but then again only a minute portion of what is available.
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