Alta School Board continues to keep eye on funding; looks to outside source for goal setting

The Alta School Board Monday night approved the preliminary official statement for refinancing the existing 2002 middle school bonds. This step will save district taxpayers at least $170,000 which is very good news.

The board is looking seriously at ways to save the district any money that it can. With the recent news that the district would receive a cut of 10 percent in their expected state funds, tightening of the belt is necessary.

"It's not easy to make reductions in the middle of the year," said Superintendent Fred Maharry. We need to scrutinize and squeeze where ever we can."

The board agreed on $12,100 in reduction, as requested by Maharry and principal Tom Ryherd who have reviewed this year's line budget very carefully.

Areas that dollars can be saved include travel expenses for the board and administrators, professional development, books, recreational field trips, legal fees, and custodial supplies and service purchases.

It will be a goal of the board to continue looking at areas that could continue with less. Paper copying costs, paper and utilities are three such areas that will be examined more closely.

The board will begin discussions for the 2010-11 school year. "I invite board members' input on the best ways to reduce spending," Maharry said. "We will begin talking about reducing expenses for next year while minimizing the harm to students."

The board has agreed to hiring Les Douma of Orange City, a past superintendent and AEA member, to lead a goals workshop. For the past few years the board has had the same goals and the group feels they need a push to come up with some new goals and ways to meet those goals. Douma has offered his assistance to other schools, including Aurelia. It is felt an outside facilitator will help greatly. Douma's fees are very reasonable and much less than if guidance were sought from an Iowa Association of School Board member. The board also feels good about Douma also assisting Aurelia as the two districts look at some of the same goals.

It is hoped that Douma will meet with the board in January.

Speaking of looking at the future, the board discussed updating the equipment in the elementary kitchen as the possibility of high school students and Aurelia students utilizing the lunchroom. Much of the equipment is outdated, Maharry said. Food services head Deb Hanson has looked into costs and has obtained quotes for $30,000 to replace equipment. This is not something that needs to be done immediately, Maharry said, but they would like to have the equipment in place and ready for used by 2011. Funding would come from the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.

The board is still struggling with the costs they will need to pay for the new and necessary equipment at the school/community library. The library board has agreed to the Atrium Book Systems equipment and other equipment needed and will pay the cost of $6,540. The yearly service fee is $595. The board is still considering whether they will pay this cost. The issue has drug on for several months and it is hoped to wrap things up soon, Maharry said.

The board also discussed an early retirement plan. It was recommended that 37 percent of the salary of those teachers taking part in the early retirement plan be given as a "reward". Discussion will continue. There are "some" Alta teachers that would qualify this year, Maharry said.

The Alta School Board also approved the resolution to start work on the vote for the Revenue Purpose Statement extension through 2029. A vote will be held February 2010 to continue the state-wide sales tax. Maharry said that by holding a vote, if passed, and there is no reason why it shouldn't, the district will be able to maintain control over the funds up until 2029 instead of losing them if the state decides to use the funds in another way.

The people voted on this issue a few years ago, extending the year, at that time, to 2022.