Schools

MRH School Board Reviews 2011-12 Budget

The Board of Education held a workshop on Tuesday night.

An early retirement program offered last year has helped the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District keep its budget in line for the 2011-12 fiscal year, Chief Financial Officer Kay Lesley said.

The comments came during a Tuesday budget workshop of the MRH Board of Education. The board is expected to vote Thursday on the proposals.

Employees have retired from the and food services, among other areas.

The projected 2011-12 budget is expected to total about $22.3 million, up roughly 5.5 percent over the district's amended 2011 budget. Salaries are expected to rise about 4 percent while expenditures on professional development are expect to fall by more than 20 percent.

Salaries and benefits account for the bulk of the district's expenses.

Operating funds for the district have grown since 2010 because of a 67-cent tax levy increase that voters approved. They rose from $2.7 million in 2010 to $3.5 million this year, and they're expected to rise to approximately $3.8 million in 2012, graphs provided by Lesley show.

Board member Nelson Mitten had several questions for Lesley, Assistant Superintendent Karen Hall and Superintendent Linda Henke on Tuesday. Among them: What accounts for the more than $10,000 decrease in expeditionary learning expenses projected for 2012 at ? Students at the school as part of the school's learning objectives.

Henke said she's not sure what accounts for the decline, though it's possible fewer students are projected to participate or the school was able to negotiate lower costs for the travel. She said the new figure—$49,000 for expeditionary learning in 2011-12 as opposed to $59,905 in 2010-11—includes the addition of a planned two-day, one-night trip for seventh graders.

Mitten also asked why counseling purchased services at are projected to rise from approximately $2,600 to approximately $11,400, while expenses for counseling supplies are expected to fall from approximately $4,400 to approximately $1,000.

It's possible that the discrepancy has to do with the fact that a wider group of students is now receiving the ACT preparatory test known as PLAN, Henke said. She said more information would be obtained for the board about the figures.

Expenses for event personnel at athletic events are expected to decline by more than 40 percent in the coming year. Henke said the change reflects the effects of a proposed restructuring of the athletic director position. The move would involve designating a person to attend games as a supervisor as opposed to relying on a group of people. The board was expected to discuss the proposal in executive session.

Summer school is expected to return to a greater extent in 2011-12 than in 2010-11. Henke said summer school is "just an essential part of a school program," though she said it's hard to provide rich offerings on a tight budget.

"It's certainly not as robust as it was then," said Henke, referencing previous years in which the program received more funding.

The Brentwood School District only is interested in collaborating on summer school at the high school, Henke said, not at the elementary or middle school levels as she had hoped.

The proposed 2011-12 budget also reflects the addition of a full-time technology specialist. Henke said the use of student helpers has helped the district manage technology costs. She said the work helps students stay invested in the school.

Other notes:

  • The budget factors in planned roof repairs at in Richmond Heights.
  • Board member Lamar Agard requested a breakdown of differences between the original 2010-11 budget and the amended version. Lesley said she would look into those figures.
  • Agard also asked whether the fuel costs factored into the 2011-12 budget will be enough given a recent rise in gas prices. Beth Rowland, director of buildings and grounds, said that while it might not be enough were gas prices to rise to $5, the grounds crew has cut back on its fuel usage. "I think we'll be OK," Rowland said.

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