During the most recent Wrangell School Board meeting an economic fact became abundantly clear – though spending more in some areas, the district is finding ways to save money.
After beginning the year with an operating capital projection of $74,492 remaining in the district’s coffers, the board approved an upward departure from that number to $204,843. That total, an increase of $130,351, is just over 3 percent of the district’s total budget of $6,768,400.
“This is a normal revision cycle and this happens in November of every year after we have our student count finished and submitted to the state,” Rhodes said.
Although there was an increase in spending on a number of items in the budget, the increase in available capital resulted from a reduction in salaries to teachers and additional funding from the State of Alaska for students enrolled in the district.
The salaries to teachers were reduced by $7,916 and reflect the actual contract amounts for each educator. The district also offered a smaller part-time contract to one teacher than what was budgeted for originally.
An increase in “brick and mortar” and virtual students in the district also contributed to an increase for Wrangell.
The additional students added state funding of $255,163. The enrollment numbers, although higher than what was budgeted for, have not been verified by the state and further changes in funding could come after those numbers are finalized.
“By the end of October we notify the state on how many are enrolled and attending,” Rhodes added. “That is what the state revenue is based on.”
According to a report given to the board by district business manager Pam Roope, Wrangell schools also saved money by not spending it.
“The increase in beginning capital is $131,383,” Roope said in her report. “We did not spend money we had budgeted for equipment in the maintenance line item of $74,036 and our energy costs were about $26,000 less than we anticipated.”
Rhodes also said a change in the way one school is heated has made the difference for the district’s bottom line.
“The high school went from a boiler to electric,” Rhodes said. “Before I came to Wrangell, the district received a grant to switch the heating source. It’s saving a lot of money going that route.”
While costs for teachers may have gone down, there was an increase of $38,614 in salaries to aides. The majority of that increase is in special education for need-intensive students. Substitute teachers and staff also saw an increase in money spent to $18,750.
The largest single increase in the line items was a $191,427 jump in spending for equipment, according to the report by Roope.
“Some of this replaces what was cut from the previous budget and some of this new money is for technology,” Roope added in the report. “There is $150,827 for regular instruction, $30,600 for voc ed and $10,000 for tech infrastructure.”
Heating oil costs also increased for the district by $6,000 to just under $62,000 for the year.
The next regular school board meeting is set for Dec. 5 at 5:15 p.m. in the district conference room.
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