BRIMLEY — The Brimley Area School Board met June 21 with all members present.
Superintendent Al Kantola received two pieces of correspondence that he deemed, “real good news.” The first was a letter from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians containing a check for $4,375 to support the school's Freedom to Learn grant that provides laptop computers to students.
The second correspondence was also from Sault Tribe, this time containing a check for $10,000 to support the Brimley School sports program, specifically the football lights project.
Kantola called the checks “very unexpected” and said he would send a letter of thanks on behalf of the board.
The board voted unanimously to pay $807,080.32 in bills — $788,703.26 from the general fund; $12,886.25 for food service and $5,490.81 for athletics.
Twice each year, NEOLA recommends board policy revisions. To be formally adopted by the board, the revisions must be read at two separate board meetings. The first reading of the NEOLA policy revisions took place at the May meeting. The board voted unanimously to consider the June 21 reading the second and final reading.
Reading Recover Teacher Charlene Dewitt announced her retirement, effective Sept. 1.
The board granted a teacher's request for a one-year leave of absence.
Eight applicants were interviewed for a vacant fourth grade teacher position. Kantola said that it was a very tough decision, but recommended the board hire Kristin Schexnayder to fill the position. Schexnayder worked at Brimley School the last school year as an intern from Lake Superior State University and coached Junior High Track and Volleyball.
The hiring of a K-12 music and band teacher was tabled because the individual Kantola recommended the board to hire had been out of town and not yet accepted the position.
Kantola interviewed five applicants for the newly formed Indian Education Coordinator/Teacher position. He recommended the board hire Adel Easterday, current teacher at Baweting School in Sault Ste. Marie and past Indian Education Coordinator for Sault Schools. The board moved to hire Easterday with all members voting, “yes.”
The board voted to adopt at 457(b) retirement plan for employees. The voluntary plan is at no cost to the district and is funded solely through employee payroll contribution.
2003-2004 budget
Because state law requires all schools to have a balanced budget by the end of each fiscal year (June 20), Brimley School updated the 2003-2004 budget.
Due to a $250,000 increase in school revenue ($242,000 increase in expenses), the school had a budget deficit of only $182,000 instead of the $190,000 deficit projected earlier. The deficit will be covered by the school's fund equity, leaving that account with a balance of $1.9 million.
The school's food service budget required an additional $7,000 from the general fund in order to balance. Kantola said this is due to the increased expenses of the school's ala carte menu and suggested the board raise the prices of some items by one quarter.
“[It] should be, if not a money-maker, at least a break-even thing,” he said. This year, the ala carte expenses totaled almost $40,000, but generated only about $30,000 in revenue.
The athletic budget also required an additional fund transfer from the general fund — $10,300 — due to increased expenses for officials, coaches, supplies and uniforms. However, Kantola said that the school's revenue also increased — football admissions by $2,300 and boys basketball admissions by $11,000 over the projected amounts.
In separate motions, the board unanimously approved amendments to the 2003-2004 general fund, food service, athletic, 1998 debt retirement and 1999 debt retirement budgets. The capital project budget was not acted on since the fund was depleted during the past year and the school's building projects complete.
2004-2005 budget
Kantola presented the board with the 2004-2005 budget. Based on current information, the school would operate under a $635,000 deficit, which would have to be balanced using the school's fund equity, depleting the fund from $1.9 million to $1.2 million.
Kantola said that the school could not operate this way for too long and they may have to look at ways to cut the budget over the next few years. He said this was a “worst case scenario” because the school will probably be able to use three-year averaging for pupil count instead of the actual numbers which could mean an additional $170,000 in revenue. Also, you never know what enrollment will look like, he said.
The board voted to adopt the proposed general fund, food service, athletic, 1998 debt retirement and 1999 debt retirement budgets.
New Business
In an effort to raise additional operating funds, the schools of the EUP Intermediate School District (ISD) are proposing that an election be held on Sept. 27, to consider a regional enhancement millage of 1.4 mills for two years. Passage of this millage request will require a majority vote by the combined voters in each of the EUP ISD school districts.
The millage increase would provide the school with approximately $280 per student or $132,000 for two years — more than the 1.4 mills would raise in the community, since distribution of the funds is based on a per-pupil rate, not the funds gathered from each individual community.
Kantola said the funds would be used to purchase two new buses and supplement the after school program.
The board voted unanimously to approve a resolution for the regional enhancement millage special election to be held Sept. 27.
Cynthia Ojala was elected to one of two vacant school board seats. Since there was no interest in the second vacant seat, the board decided to advertise the position in hopes someone would express interest.
Anyone interested in being appointed to a one-year term on the Brimley Area School Board can submit a letter of interest by July 2. The new member would be appointed at a special board meeting to be held July 7 at 4:30pm.
Three people bid on the school's retired vehicle, a 1994 Oldsmobile Delta 88. Since the vehicle was not in use, the board decided to accept the highest bid of $751 though it was considerably under the Kelley Blue Book price.
Board Reports
Kantola asked the board to consider selling a retired school bus to the Brimley Booster Club for $1, who would then sell the bus to raise money for the club. Kantola said this has been a past practice and that people have already expressed interest in purchasing the bus from the club. If a formal resolution is needed, it will be brought to the next board meeting.
Additionally, people have expressed interest in purchasing 5,000 paver stones taken from the front of the school. The stones, currently in storage, would sell for about 15 cents each.
