By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich-By a 7-0 vote on Monday night the school board of trustees adopted the 2015-16 initial budget.
The 2015-16 school year will begin with a 7.74 percent, or $1,477,990, fund balance, up from the $1,336,527, or 7.33 percent, starting the 2014-15 school year. The estimated fund balance at the end of the 2015-16 school year will be $1,336,527, or 7 percent. In comparison, the 2010-11 fiscal year ended with a fund balance of about 15.5 percent, or $2,776,469.
‘Revenues are down, we cannot form a budget of what might be in the fall’this budget is based on what we know,? said David Cramer, board president. ‘The projection is down 60 students for next fall, based on $7,000 per student that’s $420,000. We hope to backfill the hole with Schools of Choice, but that will account for some, not all. It’s unlikely that many new students would arrive.?
‘We do have an increase in fund balance, we are just about 8 percent. Our goal is 10 percent and we are going to spend $141,463 of it next year. If that fund balance gets to 5 percent the state now looks at that as an early warning of trouble. Until we know more of the numbers for next year we’ll take it slow and focus on keeping money in the classroom.?
Earlier this year the district announced layoff of several staff given an estimated reduction of 60 students for the start of the 2015-16 school year. However, following the approval of the budget, the slow recall process began on Monday.
‘We are ecstatic that we started this week to recall staff,? said Michelle Imbrunone, district superintendent.
The distinct also approved a food service management cooperative agreement with the Bentley Community School District, who is expected to vote on the arrangement this week.
The one-year arrangement will send Jean Kish, district food service director, to oversee the Bentley cafeteria operations part-time.
‘The contract will bring in about $30,000 per year for the district,? said Imbrunone. ‘It’s an effort to be innovative and create new revenue streams while consolidating service. The Goodrich Area Schools, like many school districts throughout the state, is dealing with a $15 per pupil increase in funding (this fall). As a result, we must take personnel actions we would not otherwise take, that affect quality staff, in order to make cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. These are not popular decisions, but when faced with all difficult choices, we make the decisions that preserve classroom programs.?
Where possible the district also seeks to contract positions utilizing the Genesee Education Consultant Services (GECS). The GECS contracts with school districts for a variety of jobs including teachers, custodial and clerical positions.
Betty Griffiths, high school secretary, along with Terri Schall, high school attendance/athletic secretary, addressed the board on Monday night following notification from Imbrunone that their positions would be changed to a contract with the GECS beginning July 1.
‘It’s just not right,? said Griffiths, who has been with the district since 2001 and the Milford School District for 13 years before that. ‘The decision just came out of the blue with no warning about three weeks ago.?
‘The wage will be the same, but the benefits will not be’both Terri and I are not willing to do that after all we’ve done for the district. It’s a matter of principle’I was assured by the past two superintendents that we could stay on until retirement. I guess that’s not the case. I wanted to retire here within the next two years.?
Terri Schall has worked in the district for 18 years and currently is the secretary to the dean of students in addition to athletic secretary. Schall is also the ASSE area representative assisting foreign high school students find host families here.
Like Griffiths, her position will be part of the GECS.
‘It’s not in the best interest of the district,? said Schall. ‘The amount of responsibility is really more than one person can do if they are not familiar with the job. They have been wanting to privatize our jobs for years, but we were told that we were OK and could retire and then they would privatize our positions. I had planned on working another two years. There was also a two year wage agreement of which one (year) was left. And while the wage will stay the same the benefits will not be. It really hurts to be tossed aside after almost 20 years and forced out.?
Schall said over the years the ASSE students coming here brought the district about $50,000 in per-pupil funding.
‘The program really helped this district,? she added.
Imbrunone said both Griffiths and Schall are guaranteed a position with the district if they choose.
‘The wages will be the same,? she said. ‘And they can stay in the building they love. All but one secretary in the district are with GECS and believe they all live within the district, too.?