State budget cuts could hit USD 234

Students Nathan Jackson, Cole Hall, Kinzye Whitehead, Abbi DeLoera, Hunter Potter and Dylan Pinkerton play games and look over some reading material during the after-school program at Winfield Scott Elementary School Tuesday. Youngsters also play in the gym and get homework assistance and snacks. (Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

Proposed reductions in state aid could hit USD 234 smack in the general fund.

District Business Manager Tiffany Forester discussed the possibility of cuts in state aid for the remainder of the 2010-11 school year and for the 2011-12 school year at Monday's board meeting. If the governor's proposals are approved, base state aid per pupil would drop from $4,012 to $3,937, resulting in a loss of $137,762 in funding for USD 234 this year, she said.

A drop in state aid per student by another $157 next year to $3,780 would result in a loss of $463,072 in funding for the district during the 2011-12 school year. This means the district faces a possible loss of $600,834 over the next two years. It also won't receive federal economic stimulus funds that had been budgeted the last two years.

The district's general fund is about $11.7 million this year.

The board also approved a recommendation from Superintendent Rick Werling to eliminate the 21st Century Community Learning Center at Fort Scott Middle School. This is the last year for the five-year, $50,000 grant that funds the program.

The board also approved Werling's recommendation to implement an after-school child care program that is currently offered at Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware elementary schools for the 2011-12 school year.

Parents pay a fee of $2.50 per day for the service that currently serves kindergarten through fifth-grade students from 3 to 5:30 p.m. daily at each campus. A snack, homework assistance and supervised play are all part of the program. Werling said the program will be implemented at the middle school on a trial basis.

In other business Monday, the board:

* Reviewed a report on the district's second semester enrollment count. As of Jan. 10, there are 1,917 students enrolled in district schools.

* Acknowledged receipt of negotiation lists from the board and the Fort Scott Chapter of the Kansas National Education Association for the 2011-12 school year.

* Approved a proposal to install a Wide Area Network (WAN) in the district. Officials said the district is currently on a wireless network that has some limitations and creates some problems. The WAN uses fiberoptics that provide updated technology and future cost savings by allowing the district to consolidate equipment and software. A major portion of the cost of the network is covered by E-Rate, which would create an additional 77 percent discount.

E-Rate is a program designed to assist most schools and libraries in the United States in obtaining affordable telecommunications and Internet access.

* Approved a consent agenda that included the treasurer's report, the $1.2 million district payroll for January, bills and claims, and gifts received by district schools this year.

* Heard a report from Werling on activities in the district due to the district's participation in the Kansas Learning Network.