School revenues lag, but expenses down $2.5 million

Income for the Willow Springs school district remains a concern, but expenses are down more than $2.5 million this year from last year, the school board heard this month. Citing again an “aggressive” revenue model that predicted this year’s anticipated income, financial consultant Kelly Lowe informed the board that collections of local taxes were $319,000 short for the year. 

 

To meet budgeted revenues, the district must collect 101% of total taxes owed, Lowe said. It’s not impossible. Three of the last four years, the district has collected one hundred percent of the sums, or close to it, he said. In addition to slow collections, however, revenues are lower because of lower enrollment. This will be an ongoing circumstance. Enrollments have continued to decline this school year. 

 

The district plans to continue to “squeeze expenditures” to meet the projected shortfall in revenue, Lowe’s report to the board said. Board members commended staff and administration during this March 9 meeting for a “great job” of curtailing spending. According to Lowe’s financial report, expenses are down to $8,731,262 from $11,267,176 last year, a difference of $2,535,914. The overall budget has only been 55% spent. 

 

A few individual line items are overspent, which has been a glaring problem in previous years. This year, the overspending is due mostly to coding changes. Lowe pointed out expenses for business, marketing & management are 1,197% spent but explained that it is because a FACS salary has been re-coded to this line item. Most other line items in the budget are about 60 percent spent as the district heads into the fourth quarter of the school year. 

 

The balance of all funds was reported as $2,776,103.56. In February, the balance was $3,200,467.57, and the balance one year ago was $2,992,439.20.

 

In the April meeting, Lowe plans to present initial budget numbers for the coming fiscal year.

 

In closed session, the board unanimously approved next year’s slate of administrators. As previously reported by Howell County News, administrative staff has been reduced and combined. Approved in this meeting were: Dustin Forrest, high school principal, Robert James, assistant high school principal and athletic director, Chris Cochran, middle school principal, Logan Schwalm, elementary school principal, Casey Yardley, intermediate assistant principal, Barbara Medina, special education director, and Chris Waggoner, curriculum director. 

 

As part of the consent agenda, the board approved the following certified hires: John Carter, middle school teacher, Sally Weller, middle school teacher, and Amy Barlow, high school counselor. They accepted resignations from: teachers Kate Iacovleva, TJ Rolen, and Serghei Iacovlev and Charlene Barrett, custodian. They approved retirement for John Hudson, bus driver, and Myra Yost, middle school teacher, as well as Kaci Wake as a substitute teacher. 

 

Guest Marcy Owens addressed the board about prayer in school and at board meetings, citing case law she says proves prayer is not prohibited in public schools. She spoke for the full allotment of time, insisting that the board, and all forms of government, have a moral imperative to pray. The board took no action. 

 

In other actions, the board approved: 

-Policy updates regarding ADA-compliance of the school website, board meeting times, parental rights to decline pupil exposure to items in the school library, and SB 68 requirements. 

-The non-resident tuition rate of $8,000 per student, an increase of $1,000. 

-The closing of an account with Simmons Bank.

-The purchase of a trailer for the band. 

-A closed session for student discipline and personnel matters.