Highlights from the Board of Education Meeting

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

January 13, 2014 

January is school board recognition month. Please let our members of the Board of Education know they are appreciated. They spend a considerable amount of time reading and reviewing recommendations while researching pertinent topics so that they can make informed decisions at the board table. Additionally, they provide an important link to the community while attending athletic events, band concerts and other co-curricular activities.

Education Plus credit union presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to the Board of Education in support of the track construction project. The district is planning to move forward with the project. Currently, we are soliciting bids for the project and the track committee will be convening at the end of the month to review bids and make final recommendations to the Board.

Peggy Behrendt officially retired from her teaching position effective January 31, 2014. She has served the students of Ida Public Schools since 1986.

Lorna Myers officially retired from the In-School Suspension supervisor position effective December 31, 2014. She has served the district since 1992.

The Board of Education authorized Mr. Bennett to begin planning the band trip to Florida in the spring of 2015 while authorizing Mr. Carsten to begin planning the eighth grade trip to Washington D.C. in the spring of 2015.

Ida Public Schools started the 2014 budget year with a fund balance of $4,274,133. However, our updated budget projections include revenue of $12,692,522 while projected expenses are at $13,378,526. Therefore the district is overspending by $686,004. The anticipated fund balance on June 30, 2014 is expected to decline to $3,588,129. The 2015 budget year will be more difficult to manage. Revenue is projected at $12,161,472 while expenses are projected at $13,203,820. That equates to $1,042,348 in overspending which would take our fund equity down to $2,545,781. Please contact your legislative representatives and encourage them to increase funding for education.

Once approved, the meeting minutes are posted on the district web-site at www.idaschools.org.