District OKs budget

The USD 234 Board of Education unanimously approved a 2011-12 budget Monday that includes a 1.225 mill increase in the district's overall mill levy.

The increase will raise the mill levy from last year's total of 42.743 mills to 43.968 mills and raise $122,400 to help offset more than $500,000 in state funding cuts and reductions due to declining enrollment. It will also allow the district to maintain the same budget authority it had last year in its local option budget, which allows districts to raise money locally for enhancing their education programs.

USD 234 Business Manager Tiffany Forester said the increase will help the district absorb cuts and operate at the same level financially as last year.

"It's to maintain our expenses as they have been in the past," she said.

Board President Janet Braun said the panel is "most definitely aware of the difficult financial times our community is experiencing," but it also has the responsibility of "keeping the Fort Scott school system strong for our children."

"Our challenge is to keep the mill levy as low as possible while building a budget that will support the necessary programs in our schools," she said.

Braun said as the board has used cost-saving measures -- such as not filling the positions of many teachers who have retired or resigned, cutting hours and making cutbacks in some programs -- board members have "worked diligently to keep the mill levy increase to a minimum." She added the board has worked to not eliminate programs or positions due to funding cuts.

"I'm glad we haven't had to raise the mill levy any more than we have," she said. "We will continue to work throughout the year to find other ways to stretch our resources and do our best to live within our means."

The board was approached by local resident Deborah Hall, who expressed her concern about a mill levy increase "in this economy" and said she was speaking as "an average citizen."

"I hear maintain ... We also need to maintain," she said. "A mill levy increase at this time is not really acceptable."

In response, Braun told Hall the board "understands" her viewpoint but "this is what we have to do to keep schools strong."

Also on Monday, the board:

* Accepted the resignations of Jeanie Parker, kitchen manager at Fort Scott Middle School, and Cheri Brandt, a teacher aide at Winfield Scott Elementary School.

* Approved the transfers of Veda Gulick, six-hour ticket clerk at the middle school, to seven-hour kitchen manager at the middle school; Julie Mewhinney from six-hour cook at Eugene Ware Elementary School to six-hour ticket clerk at the middle school; Mary Worsley from a 2.5-hour grant-funded cook position to six-hour cook at Eugene Ware Elementary School, and Laura Nation from a teacher aide position at Eugene Ware to a teacher aide position at Winfield Scott created by Brandt's resignation.

* Approved employment of Pam Hutchison for the 2.5-hour grant-funded cook position at Winfield Scott, Diana Knopp as a bus driver, Alvin Metcalf Jr., as an assistant baseball coach at the high school, Sandra Beth as cheerleading sponsor at the high school, Jyandy Norris as assistant cheerleading sponsor at the high school, Susan Weddle as at-risk teacher aide at Eugene Ware, Shanna Staton as a paraeducator at the Fort Scott Preschool Center, and Brad Matkin to fill the vacant football coaching position for seventh and eighth grade at the middle school.

* Approved a request for maternity leave for middle school teacher Amy Hixon.

* Approved a contract between Fort Scott High School and the Fort Scott golf course, in the amount of $1,200, for use of the golf course during the 2011-12 season.

* Heard a report on the district's participation in the Kansas Learning Network.

* Reviewed the district petty cash report.