BAY MILLS — The Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School Board met April 13 to discuss the school's financial affairs. Mosaica Education Representative Jim Androse suggested the board meet in a working session to balance this year's budget and talk about next year's budget.
As discussed in a prior board meeting, the school may have to take out a loan to cover this year's budget shortfall — the state mandates that all public schools must have a balanced budget by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Due to rising health insurance costs and a decrease in Title I and At Risk federal funding, the school is being conservative in its budget forecast for the next school year. Rather than budget for the full funding of $6,700 per student, they will only budget for $6,650 per student. This will allow them to have some flexibility with the budget and not be in financial straits at the end of next year. If the full funding comes through, the budget will be adjusted, Androse said.
The key issue is student enrollment, he said. The more students they have, the more federal funding they will receive. The school currently has 84 enrolled students. Androse said that a minimum of 120 K-8 students are needed to have a balanced budget.
So far, 13 students are registered for testing to begin Kindergarten — Kindergarten Roundup is scheduled for April 29, with a parent meeting May 3. Principal Diane Benjamin said the school is planning on having two Kindergarten classes, including the addition of a Developmental Kindergarten (D-K) class, also referred to as Young 5s.
The board discussed the addition of a ninth grade next year. Projected costs for the addition of high school could be as high as $250,000, but current funding for this year's eight enrolled eighth graders totals only $50,000. Parents of an eighth grade student requested the board look into the addition of ninth grade, regardless the cost.
The board also discussed joining the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Previously, efforts were stalled due to MHSAA's requirement that 15 students be eligible to play. An audience member questioned other rural schools — Paradise and Mackinac Island — who play high school sports, but have fewer students than Ojibwe Charter School.
The board unanimously approved a motion to add ninth grade next year and seek funding to support it, to offer an elementary and middle school athletic program and seek MHSAA status.
In other business, Ojibwe Language Instructor Michelle Willis resigned her position. The open position has been posted and the school hopes to have a replacement soon.
Three candidates have interviewed for the open Chief Academic Officer (CAO) — Principal — position, but the selection process is not over. Board member Wanda Perron asked to be informed before a final selection was made.
The Ojibwe Charter School Board currently has five members, but discussed the addition of two more, with permission from the Bay Mills Community College Board of Regents — the charter school's authorizing body — who appoints new members based on the board's recommendation. Interested parents can submit a letter of intent to Ojibwe Charter School Board President Shelly Deuman, 11507 W. Industrial Drive, Brimley, Mich., no later than May 10, at 4 p.m.
Mosaica Education Regional Vice President of Operations Jim Rundborg said the school is 99.96 percent assured of approval for a Title VII grant. Because the school cannot levy taxes, it is eligible for discretionary dollars from the Department of Education in the form of special grants. The additional funding could equal almost $1,300 per student.
Mosaica Education sent out Requests for Proposals (RFP) for a school auditor. All schools must retain an outside auditor to review the year's budget. Of the four proposals received, Anderson Tackman and Company, in Kincheloe, submitted the lowest bid. The board selected them as the school's auditor for the next three years.
The board discussed formally adding Ojibwe history and culture to the school's curriculum, using “Gnoozhekaaning: Place of the Pike, A History of the Bay Mills Indian Community,” by Charles Cleland, as a possible textbook and resource. Board member Aaron Tadgerson said that children benefit from being taught history that reflects their own heritage. The board decided to look into the development of region-specific curriculum for all grade levels.
The next meeting of the Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School Board will take place May 10, at 7 p.m.
