School district proposes $14.9 million budget

A $14.9 million proposed budget was presented at the Clintonville Public School District's Annual Meeting on Monday, Aug. 27.

A net estimated tax rate of $11.48 per $1,000 valuation was also presented to the citizens of the district in attendance.

The district's annual budget in 2009-10 was $15,848,345.72, and was at $17,646,719.32 for the 2010-11 school year. It was at $15,705,313.19 in 2011-12.

The tax levy rate was $10.97 during the 2009-10 school year, $13.17 for 2010-11, and $11.31 in 2011-12. The general levy for 2010-11 included the Energy Efficiency Exemption under the State Revenue Limit.

The proposed levy rate for 2012-13 was listed at $11.48. It was noted that this levy rate is only an estimate at this time, and could change prior to the levy being officially set in late October. The 2012-13 proposed levy rate assumes a 1.88 percent decrease on the equalized valuation, which will be certified on Oct. 1.

The estimated levy rate is based on the equalized valuation as certified by the Department of Revenue. Property tax bills are determined through the individual municipality's variation on the assessed valuation of property.

Utiliziing the proposed levy rates for Funds 10, 38 and 39, for a house with a $75,000 value, the tax would be $803, an increase of $5 from last year. For a house with a $150,000 value, the tax would be $1,606, up $10 from last year.

Superintendent Tom O'Toole stated that the district had reduced expenditures by 7.1 percent in 2011-12 and cut out another 7.1 percent for 2012-13.

"Our state aid is just under 60 percent of our budget," O'Toole explained. "When that amount decreases-as it has-the local impact increases. State aid was at 67 percent in 2006-07, and now it is below 60 percent. This means we have had to work hard to create a balanced budget."

O'Toole said future considerations such as state and federal funding, health care costs, energy costs, and legislative requirements for student achievement will have a big impact on the district in the coming years. "We have made a commitment to working on test scores," O'Toole stated. "It's tougher to do that with less staff and less funding. As student enrollment declines, it makes the budget tougher and tougher."

The district is projecting an enrollment of 1,420 students, which is down slightly from 1,430 in 2011. Enrollment was 1,457 in 2010 and 1,533 in 2009.

Annual Meeting

Board President Tim Schultz thanked taxpayers for their continued support of the school district, both financially and through volunteering and other methods of giving to students.

"Our schools are doing pretty well. Our teachers have one year left on their contracts, so we will have time to work through recent changes at the state level that impact contract issues," Schultz commented. "We are dealing with shrinking enrollment, and we're attempting to operate as efficiently as possible."

Schultz and O'Toole went on to speak of some of the many positive opportunities being offered to students, and Board Treasurer Clyde Tellock followed with a presentation outlining fund balances.

Thirteen resolutions were approved at the meeting. They are as follows:

a. Board member salaries-Salaries will stay the same as last year ($90 per meeting for regular and special board meetings; $50 per in-service meeting; officers receive an additional $250 annually and members of the Negotiation Committee each receive $300 annually. Policy/Personnel Committee and Finance Committee members receive $20 per meeting, but no more than one paid meeting per month);

b. Levy for operations of the district (Fund 10): $4,091,606;

c. Levy for the Non-Referendum Debt Fund (Fund 38): $122,531;

d. Levy for the Debt Retirement Fund (Fund 39): $1,619,060;

e. Levy for the Community Fund (Fund 80): $418,470;

f. Authorization for the board to engage legal counsel as may become necessary during the 2012-13 school year;

g. Authorization for the board to borrow funds on a short-term basis within limits prescribed by statutes in the event cash flow condition should so necessitate during the 2012-13 school year;

h. Authorization for the board to set a date for the Year 2013 Annual Meeting;

i. Authorization for the board to sell surplus equipment and supplies;

j. Authorization for the board to sell any property belonging to and not needed by the school district;

k. Authorization for the board to lease school property;

l. Authorization for the board to continue to provide school meals to the pupils of the school district and appropriate funds for that purpose; and

m. Authorization for the board to provide school transportation.

In other business, the board approved the following:

• Extra-curricular resignation of Jeff Crumbaugh from his high school cross country coaching position, effective immediately;

• Extra-curricular hires of Stacy Hohn (high school cross country), Tom Dechant (middle school cross country), John Klein (middle school football) and Kimberly Brei (musical set director). These hires passed by a 6-1 vote, with Jim Dins voting no. Dins expressed concerns over Dechant taking the middle school cross country coaching position, as it will require him to be away from the school for some meets. Dechant and Dins discussed the matter, with Dechant saying he would not have sought the position if he wasn't confident that everything at the school could be handled smoothly in his absence;

• Voluntary change in assignment for Megan Jo Meyers from grade three to Kindergarten;

• Hiring Lindsay Carlson to a grade three position;

• Resignation of Staci Rubenzer from her Para II HS ISS position, effective immediately;

• Hiring Staci Rubenzer to a Community Learning Center Coordinator position

• Hiring Sara Burmeister (Para I at Dellwood, 23.5 hours/week), Laurel Jaecks (Food Service III at the middle school, 12.5 hours per week), Ericka Shelton (Para II at the high school ISS, 20 hours per week) and Lori Poppe (Para II at the high school ISS, 22.5 hours per week).

The board was also informed that Shawano Medical Center is donating $3,000 per year for the next five years to the district's athletics programs. They will also continue to provide athletic trainers.

The first day of school for grades PK-9 is Tuesday, Sept. 4. The first day of school for grades 10-12 is Wednesday, Sept. 5. The next regular meeting of the board of education is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, in the middle school IMC.