Brandon Twp.- The school district is planning nearly $1.5 million in cuts to the 2016-17 budget, but also recently received some potentially very good news about a dreaded pending expenditure.
The board of education discussed at a Jan. 4 workshop a list of reductions that includes five full time teachers, consolidation of bus routes, trimming of non-essential technology projects and realignment of grant funding that would likely include more staff cuts.
‘It’s really early still? when the February count comes out we will have a more significant number to target,? said Superintendent Matt Outlaw. ‘We have $900,000 in reductions that are palatable at this point. We will need to go deeper. We have other ideas, but we are going to do our homework before we go into those.?
The February student count will help the district plan for their budget. The current projected loss of students for the 2016-17 school year is 125 students. The district receives the majority of its revenue through per-pupil funding from the state and has one of the lowest foundation allowances, receiving $7,100 per student. Since 2006, the district has lost about 1,000 students.
Items on the proposed list that board members informally agreed should remain on the table include reducing five full-time teachers with a savings of $325,000; consolidation of one central office support staff, saving $70,000; reducing less essential technology projects, $40,000 savings; consolidating bus routes due to less students, $70,000; and realignment of 31A funds, $150,000, and Title I funds, $70,000. Additionally, the district anticipates the retirements of two to seven teachers and replacement of them with teachers at entry level pay will result in approximate savings of $175,000.
The district receives money for at-risk (low-income) students in the form of 31A funds from the state and Title I funds from the federal government. In 2014-15, the district received more than $1million from these grants. Outlaw explains that money is used for purchases, conferences, and training, as well as support staff including paraprofessionals and interventionists. Realignment of the funds means a discussion with principals on what to keep.
‘The thing to remember is 31A funding is newer money and many of these positions were not here prior to this money arriving,? said Outlaw. ‘Everyone is needed, we utilize them all, but we have to prioritize by what is necessary and what are luxuries and what gives us the best return on our investments.?
The board took the school liaison officer off the list of possible reductions, agreeing the position is necessary for the safety of students.
Currently unknown is whether the district can potentially defer the cost of replacing the Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School water treatment plant, $250,000, this year. The board hopes to approve a contractor for the project at the February board meeting, but Outlaw said depending on construction timing, the district may be able to have the cost split between two different budgets.
While the wastewater treatment plant at the intermediate school is a necessity, the district recently received an exciting report about the wastewater treatment system that serves both the middle school and high school.
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, the geo-tech firm that was hired by the district to perform studies of school property has concluded their work begun early last fall and Outlaw is excited by their findings.
‘Fishbeck did full hydrogeological study of our grounds and they have found that our current wastewater treatment plant is working correctly,? said Outlaw. ‘This is huge.?
The district paid more than $50,000 for the studies by a third-party contractor after the Department of Environmental Quality told the district their wastewater treatment system must be replaced by November 2019 due to repeated violations of the discharge permit. Estimated cost of replacement is roughly $3 million. Outlaw said last month the board would have to consider requesting a sinking fund millage from voters to pay for such a system as well as additional needed repairs in the district.
However, the Fishbeck report findings show that discharge from the wwt system is flowing east, not north as the DEQ believed, said John Thompson, director of operations for the district. Outlaw also said a chloride issue appears to be caused by road salt, and not from the treatment system.
Eric Chatterson, geology specialist with DEQ, said he received the Fishbeck study this week and would meet with district officials to discuss the results and whether the district needs to do anything further.
‘Regardless of the conclusions of whether the contaminants are connected to the treatment system, they will need to comply with their permit,? said Chatterson. ‘We found elevated levels of constituents off their property and this report is one of many pieces to determine whether these are related to their ground discharge… They hired a consultant that they paid to evaluate and give an opinion. We will do an independent evaluation and may or may not agree with their findings. We may require additional work or getting agreement on disagreements we have. There may be minor or major differences of opinion, but we’re not at that stage.?
Chatterson continued that it is standard procedure for a third party to be hired, and while they are paid for and representing the school district, the company has the background and qualifications to do this kind of study. The burden of proof is on the school district as the DEQ does not have the manpower to do a study this extensive.
‘Our job is to evaluate the report and make sure the conclusions drawn are based on sound science,? said Chatterson. ‘Making sure they are protective of human health and the environment are our primary concerns… Part of the study is to make sure there is no risk to the public. If discharge is heading to private residential wells, we need to know that. The ultimate goal is to make sure no one is drinking water that doesn’t meet our criteria.?