Nothing is as set in stone as it once seemed.

At the March 26 board meeting, the Board revoked the motion made five weeks earlier on Feb. 12 for budget reductions. And according to the Meeting Brief, “The Board approved the modification of previously approved Scenario 2 to allow the use of reserve balances to provide the funds for reinstatement of the library paraprofessionals and one step on the salary schedule for employees and lane change for teacher[s], as determined by the negotiations process.”
In other words, some previously-cut library jobs are being brought back and teachers who attain higher educational degrees will continue to be given increases in pay.
“No one wants to see anyone’s job cut,” Principal Darlene Jones said. “The paras do provide an important service. I’m glad they’re bringing them back.”
Kevin Supple, the District’s Chief Financial Officer, brought some significant figures to the Board at the meeting. He informed the Board that at the end of the 2009 fiscal year in June, the District will end with a 21.5 percent fund balance, and seeing as the District needs approximately 20 percent to cover operating expenses for the first half of the year (the second half is funded by property taxes), it came as good news.
“I don’t deal with finances as much as [Dr. Renee Schuster and Supple] do, so I have to rely on their decisions,” Jones said. “The District is trying to be very conservative and not run into financial difficulty.”
However, with the modified Scenario in place, the percent fund balance for the 2010 fiscal year is not as steady. It has been projected to come out at about 19.3 percent. The Board is not only dealing with financial issues, but possible shifts within the Board itself. The annual April Board of Education elections arrived last week. Voting took place Tuesday, April 7.
“The one thing about the world is that it’s always changing,” Schuster said. “I can’t think of an election that didn’t occur when something was happening with the world. There always seems to be variables.”
Members of the Board serve three-year terms; for this reason, two of the seven were up for reelection this year: Marty Hodits and Ken Schaller. The only requirements are that the candidate must be 24 years old, live within the District and be an American citizen. The positions are completely voluntary. After a community-wide vote, Hodits and newcomer Stephen Johnson took the positions.
“I feel I could contribute to a more positive Board of Education,” Johnson said. “I can bring an open mind and a willingness to work with others to accomplish a common goal.”