School budget growing, despite cuts

Wrangell's Public School Board approved a second draft for the upcoming year's budget, which begins in July.

The addition of $375,000 in funds from the school's capital improvement fund approved in January helped balance out the proposed budget, which assumes a five-percent reduction in the state's Base Student Allocation.

Over this year's budget – revised as of this month – revenues will be down in several areas for FY18. Foundation support will drop by around $240,000 to $3.12M, while retirement fund contributions have been revised down by around $30,000 since the last draft was reviewed in January. The eRate reimbursement is also expected to drop by $16,000 as the rate of reimbursement dropped from 80 percent to 70 percent.

On the other side, expenditures were adjusted upward overall by under $19,000 for the second draft. Adjustments to aide and support staff salaries reflect the resumption of a full-time middle school secretary position, which initially was to be cut for next year.

"We're not completely done with the restructuring of the classified staff," explained school superintendent Patrick Mayer. "What we do know at this point is we're going to get somebody into the middle school office full-time."

Among the item looked at by the board was a draft of the classified staff pay schedule, which Mayer proposed should be adjusted. "Periodically we have to compare ourselves and make adjustments," he explained.

In particular, he recommended taking a closer look at the 10- to 12-month and 9-month schedules, which he found not to be competitive with other districts in the state. Figures were obtained by information available through the Association of Alaska School Boards. "There were some that were right spot-on, and some that did not pass that litmus test."

The teacher's line item in the budget was increased by $29,926, reflecting addition of a counselor with a higher pay grade, and two more classes for Spanish II and zero-hour physical education. The latter program would help the district meet unfunded state mandates for increased phys-ed opportunities. $12,000 has also been allotted to the maintenance and facilities budget for the rekeying of district buildings. Mayer explained that course is long overdue.

In all, budget expenditures will have risen by about three percent since the current year, to $5.96M. The increase reflects step-and-column advances in faculty and staff salaries. End operating capital gives the district a $10,943 buffer for the year's contingencies.

"Even with flat funding, we're losing every year," Mayer noted.

The meeting Monday evening was preceded by a "charette" session, allowing parents and community members opportunity to ask questions and provide input on the school's budget items and programming. Four stations were set up, pertaining to academic achievement, career and technical education, technology, and school safety. These subdivisions of school activities are related to the district's strategic plan, put together using a similar rotational charette back in 2015.

About 30 people participated, and though pressed for time at 10 minutes per section, were able to have discussions with key staff and inquire about the budget. The meeting also gave board members a chance to meet one-on-one with parents and faculty.

"It was just nice to hear about the different things that are going on," said board member Tammy Groshong afterward.

In other board business, member Rinda Howell had submitted her resignation from the board. The decision leaves one empty seat to be filled on the five-member body.