Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
During the regular meeting of the Madison County District School Board on Monday, June 21, Rose Raynak, the district's financial officer gave her monthly report on the school district's financial health. The district's fund balance, which is the difference between income and expenditures sits at $2,411,471.89, or 11.8 percent. The district must maintain at least a five percent fund balance or else risk intervention from the state. This 11.8 percent may seem to show a very healthy financial state, but when other factors are taken into consideration, that picture changes. Raynak warned that there are looming expenses that the board must take into consideration. One of which is the mandatory increase in the minimum wage to $10 per hour which will take effect in September. This will be a factor for the school district for several years as the increase will take place each year until it reaches $15 per hour. It is expected that this year's increase will result in a $122,000 hit to the district. Along with that, funding from the state, due to lower student enrollment, is expected to drop by $644,000. These are two examples of issues the district must consider over the coming year. These increasing obligations, along with lower funding, will bring the expected fund balance to 5.17 percent, just over the five percent required by the state. This means the district will have to continue to watch every penny for the foreseeable future.
During the public input portion of the meeting, Carrie Baxley spoke on a matter brought up in a previous meeting. She spoke in favor of extending instruction at Pinetta Elementary School (PES) to the eighth grade. Darren Baxley also spoke and echoed those sentiments. School Board Chairman Bart Alford stated that the board had met in a workshop setting and had discussed this matter. No final decisions have been made, but the board is still considering the option of extending instruction at all the outlying schools (PES, Greenville Elementary School (GES) and Lee Elementary School) to the eighth grade. “We are not putting it to rest,” said Board Member Carol Gibson.
The board approved proposed personnel changes, which included the hiring of a new band director at Madison County High School, John Eckstine, Jr. The changes also included the resignations of GES Principal, Michael Sneed, Jr. and MCHS Assistant Principal William Hightower.
The board also approved a request to advertise policy revisions. These revisions included emergency removal of students, an anti-harassment policy, non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity and a prohibition against disability discrimination in employment.
Superintendent Shirley Joseph announced that the district would be receiving $938.89 as their share of proceeds from the sale of timber on state lands.
The next meeting of the Madison County District School Board is set to take place on Tuesday, July 6, in the district office meeting room at 210 NE Duval Ave., in Madison.