By J.O. PARKER
joparker@dmreg.com
The BGM Board of Education approved the 2013-14 fiscal year budget by setting the levy at $13.80 per $1,000 valuation.
The move came at the regular meeting of the board on Thursday, April 11.
A public meeting was help prior to the approval with no opposition to the budget.
According to Superintendent Brad Hohensee, the rate may go down depending on what the legislature does regarding allowable growth.
In a related matter, the board approved a resolution adopting the 101 percent budget guarantee adjustment for the 2013-14 school year. It guarantees that the district budget will not go below the previous year’s budget.
Staff business
In business related to staff, the board:
• Approved the resignation of Lana Kinzebach, assistant speech coach; and Sandy Evans as head cook.
Approved employment offers to Dawn Stoakes, student specific para educator; Craig Zanatta, head junior high volleyball coach; Wyatt Bauman, assistant high school football coach and head junior high wrestling coach; Brian Chitwood, head junior high boys’ basketball coach; Morgan Hawkins, pool manager; Elliott Ford, Cassie Foels, Brittany Hohensee and Devan Kline, part-time summer custodians.
Technology
The board approved technology requests totaling $42,220.78. They are:
• Replacement batteries for 50 teacher lap tops at $100 each for a total of $5,000.
• Purchase six Kindle Fires for Mrs. Dodd’s classroom at approximately $200 each for a total of $1,200.
• Update the district’s wireless system at a costs of $4,090.78. This includes the addition of two more access points and updating the control module.
• Purchase of new cart of tablets for Mr. Glenn’s room at a cost of $16,730.
• Adding a third cart of lap tops that would remain in the junior high wing – approximately $500 for each laptop (need 30 lap tops to fill a cart) and $200 for a printer at a cost of $15,200.
Other business
In other business, the board:
• Approved a school start date waiver resolution. This is required for the district to start the 2013-14 school year prior to Labor Day.
• Discussed a recommendation by SIAC/CTE as follows. The district will continue to investigate the common core. They will focus on comprehension at the K-6 level and literacy in the disciplines at the 7-12 level. The district will continue its PLC work focusing on instructional techniques and developing lessons to implement the common core.
Secondary Principal Rick Radcliffe noted that literacy is one of the district’s weakness and that this goal sets a plan of action into place.
• Approved the following secondary supply requests in the amount of $20,746.30 – special education, $2,661.30; FCS (family consumer science), $2,460.27; industrial technology, $1,930.30; art, $1,140.60; science, $3,140.89; junior high reading, $500; social studies, $204.01; math, $7.81; physical education, $412.85; vocal/drama, $4,325; and band, $4,000.
• Approved the following elementary supply requests in the amount $12,073.23 – specials, $437.31; SPED, $3,098.57; pre-school, $1,243.88; kindergarten, $894.76; first, $1,528.79; second, $1,735.83; third, $2,331.44; fourth, $399.73; fifth, $366.92, and sixth, none.
• Approved student fees for the 2013-14 school year with no increase in fees outside of lunch prices, which will increase by .10 per meal – Lunch – K-6 $1.75; 7-12, $1.90; adult, $3.10.
• Approved transferring $125,000 from the SAVE fund to the debt service fund. Superintendent Hohensee reported that this was the amount budgeted to pay a portion of the elementary bond. The payment is due in May.
• Noted that the Iowa Department of Education visit is slated for April 23-25.
• Noted music space remodel project pre-construction meeting would be held on April 18 with bid letting on April 30 at 2 p.m. A special board meeting will be held that evening at 7 p.m. to award the low responsible bid. Asbestos abatement will occur on May 22, with construction work to follow.
• Noted that the elementary copier lease agreement had expired and that the district will be purchasing a new copier, opting not to lease.
The next regular scheduled meeting is Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
Source:
http://yourweeklypaper.com/blog/2013/04/16/bgm-approves-2013-14-budget/