The Daily News

The Breckenridge School Board packed a lengthy agenda into the hour-long meeting Monday, approving several items that included the fund balance policy.

Business Manager Neil Kusler recommends the district borrow $500,000 as a result of a delay in state funding and the expected June 2010 tax shift, according to the school agenda. In 1992-1993, the district borrowed $415,000 - the last time it borrowed any funds for cash flow purposes.

"In most districts, this is a yearly project," said Interim Superintendent Warren Schmidt. "You've been very frugal and did a good job with your balances."

Advertisement

The $500,000 is not additional revenue and stems from federal stabilization funding, which is separate from Title I funding, said Kusler.

"It's just a difference of the source of where the money is coming from," he said. "As I said last month, it helps the state deficit."

Last year, the district received 90 percent of its state aid funds during the current year and the remaining 10 percent the following year. Now it's set to receive 17 percent less than usual - 73 percent this year and 27 percent the next, amounting to $975,000 delayed until the following fiscal year.

"According to the cash flow forecast, we will most likely be short on funds in May or June or 2010," states the agenda. "We do have reserves, so it is not necessary to borrow any more than $500,000...when we completed the application for the Aid Anticipation Borrowing we used a very negative forecast, knowing that the amount needing to be borrowed would probably be less than originally calculated."

At the beginning of the meeting, Schmidt said Kusler informed him the district will get the shift of about $300,000 this coming year.

"It appears by the language in the contract that we will not get the money," he said. "I think we had visions of this coming back to us and I don't think it's coming back."

As far as stimulus funds are concerned, the school received some but not as much as anticipated.

"They didn't keep it all, they just kept a good share of it," said Schmidt.

• The board approved the unrequested leave f Senior High Principal Dan Bettin. The resolution states his position was reduced to part-time status next year based on the discontinuance of position, lack of pupils and/or financial imitations.

• The board did not approve the Daily News as the official newspaper at this time. "I would like to schedule a meeting with the publisher to explore ways that we can cooperate and work together in a more positive manner and if that fails to look at other options," Schmidt stated in the agenda.

• The board approved the purchase of enVision Math K-6, a new program chosen by the curriculum committee, staff and administration. The cost of the program is $21,189.71, about $10,000 cheaper than planned.

• Nine SMART Boards were approved by the board to be purchased for the elementary and high school. Six boards will be purchased using funds saved from a new math curriculum and an overpayment in Special Education. The curriculum committee suggests three boards be purchased through community donations, such as the Education Foundation, private citizen donation and a fundraiser by the elementary staff.

• The board approved employing a Breckenridge police officer at the high school. The officer will be present 171 days for two hours per day, at a cost of $20 to $25 per hour. The program will be financed through the Safe Schools Act.

• The board approved changing its monthly meeting time to 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., as attendance is similar at both meetings and could be more beneficial to the public for planning purposes. The date and place will remain the same.

Comments

parent wrote on Jul 21, 2009 1:08 PM:

" I know of at least two families that have their residence in ND & send their children to Breckenridge MN school. These PARENTS state that they pay ND taxes, have ND licenses, & vote in ND. You could not do this if you lived in Fargo ND or other ND cities/towns. "




Report Abuse

parent wrote on Jul 21, 2009 12:28 PM:

" How does the administration pick and choose who pays tuition and who doesn't? What about the parents of the two students who are paying tuition,what do they think of this. I have nothing against the families of the nonresident students, it is a money issue. Our district is educating these students on the MN taxpayers dime. The new school year is fast approaching, it will be interesting to see who pays the tuition and who enrolls their children into Wahpeton school district. "




Report Abuse

parent wrote on Jul 21, 2009 11:52 AM:

" All you have to do is call the Dept of Education. They will not give you the names(data privacy) but they will give the number of students paying tuition and that is two. It is amazing how easy it is to check this out. "




Report Abuse

Do your homework wrote on Jul 21, 2009 10:10 AM:

" Last comment seems a bit contradictory to me. Are not ND kids local students if a ND paper is LOCAL? Seems you are endorsing sending MN $ to ND for a business but not for the benefit of kids. What if these ND student’s parents are paying MN state income taxes? How many ND students are there and how do you know they do not already pay? Seems this would be covered by data privacy, so you must have an inside source. Where can I get the same info you are quoting? "




Report Abuse

citizen wrote on Jul 16, 2009 2:12 PM:

" There are things that are being covered up(such as the state of MN paying to educate ND residents/children)but not by the Daily News. Another newspaper would not be our LOCAL newspaper & so it stands to reason that our NON resident superintendent would bring up the idea of an "out of the area" newspaper. Let's shop at home and let's pay for education of MN children! "




Report Abuse

parent wrote on Jul 15, 2009 2:40 PM:

" I too think the dailynews is doing a great job... They do their best to their ability, I believe "TIM" was a previous reporter for the breck board and he dug deep to get answers for us(the public) "




Report Abuse

taxpayer wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:07 AM:

" I have been at many of these school board meetings. I would like to compliment the Daily News for their coverage of the board meetings. The articles have been very accurate. Jennifer Johnson does a very good job reporting these meetings! She only reports what goes on. It is the only way the public finds out "a little bit" of what is going on. Looks like to me that Schmidt is trying to cover up more stuff from the public. "




Report Abuse

morence wrote on Jul 15, 2009 9:42 AM:

" Putting a police officer in the school is going a little overboard. I graduated from Breck a few years ago and things must be getting dangerous there. Is there a report of violent crimes that take place at the school now. When I was there it was very safe and putting a police officer there would of been a waste of money. It must be getting very dangerous, but I highly doubt it. "




Report Abuse

Concerned Citizen wrote on Jul 15, 2009 8:20 AM:

" Now it sounds like Schmidt doesn't like the coverage he's getting in the Daily News. He wants to meet with the publisher? Why, so he can approve and/or censor the stories so he and the board are shown in a positive light? The newspaper should report what happens, period. If they come off looking negative, then so be it. The people need to know what is happening! "




Report Abuse