Posted: 5/30/07
Crossover funding may save district money
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The legislature didnít exactly shower Minnesota schools with additional funding this year, ISD #299 Superintendent Michael Moriarty informed the school board on May 21. Per pupil funding was increased two percent for the first year and one percent for the second; and funding for all-day kindergarten was increased from .55 to .58 (pupil units). But additional special education crossover funding may help the general fund.
Moriarty explained that the school district provides special education services and programs at the levels required by the state and federal government. But currently, state and federal funding of special education does not cover the expense of providing those services. The additional funds are taken out of the general fund. He estimated that the district is reimbursed for less than half of its expenses at the present time. With additional funding, less will be taken from the general fund.
The education package approved by the governor included an additional $326 million statewide for special education, $32 million in additional funding for all-day kindergarten and an additional $794 million for early childhood and K-12.
Districts will also get a one-time payment of $66 per pupil unit with "no strings attached."
The increases were not what school administrators had hoped for, said Moriarty.
"The newly elected Democrats hit a roadblock with a veto from the governor," he said.
In a related matter, kindergarten teacher Jan Klug asked the board to consider a third section of first grade. There are now plans for two sections of 23 pupils each.
Klug said that there are a number of children in the class with special needs and that teachers will be spending too much time addressing those needs. Moriarty said he will "look at the numbers" to see if that will be possible, and added that the money for the third teacher would have to come out of the general fund.
Storm damage minimized by quick action
A storm on May 14 tore a section off the elementary gym roof and allowed water to flow onto the gym floor.
"I got here at 7:20 and it looked like Niagra Falls," said Moriarty.
Even after the rain stopped, he said, the water continued to flow into the gym.
Mark Schiltz and members of the Caledonia Fire Department, as well as the schoolís own maintenance staff, were able to prevent irreparable damage to the gym floor by removing the water as quickly as possible. Fans were then positioned around the gym to dry out the floor.
Two insurance adjusters looked at the floor and determined that it could be saved, said Moriarty. It is an "iron-bound" floor with individual pieces of wood placed in a metal grid. A portion of the floor along the west wall was cut to relieve some of the pressure from the swelling of the wood. Once the wood dries out sufficiently, the floor will be refinished and will be nearly good as new, he said. The school will pay a $2,500 deductible. It will be several months before athletic events can be held in the gym, he noted.
Also covered by the $2,500 is repair of a fence at the high school which was damaged when a set of bleachers was blown into it.
Water run-off affects neighbors,
board is told
Andy and Sheri Allen of Dakota, who will be moving onto the Hillary Allen farm in the near future, asked the school board to take action to abate a water run-off problem that is causing erosion on their land.
Andy Allen explained that his grandfather sold 10 acres of land to the school district that adjoins school property. Since the school regraded its property, 30-40 acres drain onto the Allen property. He said he would like to see the problem addressed.
School board member Charlie Wray said that it was the boardís understanding that a waterway was installed to prevent erosion.
Allen responded that the project was improperly designed and that the erosion is taking place at the bottom of the waterway.
"Itís only going to get worse," he said.
Superintendent Moriarty agreed to provide members of the building committee and the Allens with copies of the files on the property and then schedule a meeting with the committee, the Allens and representatives of the NRCS to come up with possible solutions.
In other news, the school board:
ï accepted the resignation of Jeannine Hisel as a middle/high school counselor;
ï agreed to meet with the Spring Grove school board to discuss options in sharing programs;
ï approved a medical leave of absence for the 2007-08 school year for Eileen Beach;
ï approved the hiring of Kathy Rud as a school age care program supervisor;
ï gave permission for the school FFA organization to attend the national convention every year;
ï agreed to purchase a telephone system from CenturyTel for $48,292;
ï voted to terminate its teaching contract with Angela Risch.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com