Increased mill levy approved for USD 234

USD 234 Fort Scott increased its mill levy .615 at the special noon meeting Friday. This action took place following the public budget hearing, with no constituents present.

The increase brings the district's tax rate to 44.593, and gives it the authority to spend up to $23,918,692.

"I wanted to keep it as low as possible and I think we did," Board President Janet Braun told The Tribune after the meeting.

The district will know how much it will receive from the state on Sept. 20, the date used to calculate student enrollment.

"A school district's general fund budget is determined by taking the total adjusted weighted enrollment of the district, times the base state aid per pupil," on Sept. 20, of the current school year, the Kansas Department of Education website states. Last year the state aid per pupil was around $3,800.

"If enrollment is up, it allows us to receive more money from the state?" Board Member Gary Billionis said.

"Yes, that's right," Susan Brown, district business manager and clerk said.

"We have that budget authority. If revenues come in...it doesn't mean this much will come in," Braun said.

Teacher negotiations ended

In another matter, the board also accepted the negotiated agreement with the district's teachers.

"I felt good about the agreement," Braun told The Tribune. "It was a win-win situation. We got things we wanted, and they were happy with the things they wanted."

The agreement was ratified by the teachers' group, and achieved two goals. One goal was to have an increase in a base salary to recruit qualified teachers and the second goal was to have more collaborative time and inservice training for teachers, Superintendent Diane Gross said during Friday's meeting.

In addition there was a 4 percent raise.

Board Member Jenie Armstrong said the previous base salary of $30,000 wasn't competitive. It was increased to $33,000.

"Our upper end is very competitive with the rest of the state. It's a great place to end your career, we've met that goal," board member Justin Meeks said.

Insurance contribution changed

Board members approved a $10 increase in the board health insurance contribution for the classified and administrative personnel, making it the same as teachers.

In regard to insurance, there is a need to move toward the Health Care Reform plan for affordable health care, Brown told the board.

In a survey to insurance purchasers, the board conducted asked "Which is more important, cost or benefits?" Brown said the survey answers indicated that costs were most important to the purchasers.

"It's a complicated subject, taken seriously by the (insurance) committee. They are working on it," Braun said.

Personnel contracts

In addition, the board approved the following employment: Teresa Allen, Winfield Scott Elementary paraprofessional; Bob Johnson, high school assistant debate sponsor; Don Parsons, high school assistant musical/play sponsor; Heather Karleskint, high school assistant freshman volleyball coach; James Fox, high school assistant tennis coach; Eric Swartz, high school assistant soccer coach.

Executive session

The board went into an executive session to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken after the session.

Board has new tool

Friday's board meeting was the first time the board members used IPads. The tablet computers were purchased to help the board go paperless and make last minute changes to the agenda more quickly, Connie Billionis, deputy clerk told the Tribune.

"We are excited to have them and we think it will be a good thing for everybody," Connie Billionis