Public input sought on 2009-10 school budget cuts

Alerted to the fact that the Spencer school district will face at least a $328,876 deficit this school year, as well as a projected $340,803 deficit again in 2009-10, school board members brainstormed about a budget-reduction process and the possibility of reinitiating an early-retirement incentive for district employees. Dave Schlichtemeier opened Monday night's budget-cutting and -timeline discussion by telling how former district administrator Joe Graff went to school buildings his first year and told 15 teachers they were going to be fired. That was how the following year's budget was trimmed. Schlichtemeier then told his peers around the board table, "I don't think we can do that anymore."

As Marti Bomgaars restated a sentiment shared during a Nov. 11 board meeting -- that it's important to gain community input in this process -- board members chose to ask people to volunteer to serve on a committee that would offer its time and feedback.

The board agreed that Superintendent Greg Ebeling would explain the ensuing process to all who sign up to serve at one meeting. Committee members would then complete a "forced matrix" of potential budget packages, which would require them to rank random positions and programs against one another. Compiled results would then be delivered to board members.

"It's up to us to take that information in," Ed Ver Steeg said. "...If you want to take the easy way out, then you're sitting at the wrong table."

While Ebeling stated potential budget packages would be costed out through December, board members are tentatively set to discuss a timeline for committee meetings during their January 2009 board meeting. In turn, budget-package rankings by committee members and district administrators would be due by the end of January, and delivered to the board in February. The tentative budget-cutting timeline, as discussed, would also include public hearings in February, with board members voting on what to reduce for 2009-10 by March 1, 2009.

Board member Todd Korbitz also asked that Larry Sigel, school finance director for the Iowa Association of School Boards, be invited to the district for a board work session about the district's budget situation.

"That doesn't give us a balanced budget," Ebeling stated.

"It gives us the courage to do what we have to do," Schlichtemeier replied.

Board members also discussed whether they'd like to offer an early-retirement incentive to district staff members as a manner of reducing next year's budget. In order to steer board discussion, Ebeling alerted them to the fact that they could not put an age limit on such a policy because it would be deemed age discrimination. The superintendent also noted a potential retiree would need to be 55 years of age in order for his or her incentive to be paid from the district's management fund, or property taxes. If a potential retiree were over 65 years of age, his or her early-retirement monetary benefit would be paid for out of the district's general fund.

Ebeling also notified the board that he's had a couple teachers already tell him that they'd take an early-retirement incentive if it were offered, but would choose to stay in their positions if it weren't.

As Ver Steeg mentioned he'd like to see an incentive offered every year or not at all, board members decided to delay their early-retirement discussion until a board work session set for 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 9.

"In December we need to make a decision whether we're having a policy or not," Ebeling said.

In what they deemed a "symbolic" presentation, Ebeling and Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen informed board members that they've been talking about how the city and school system might work together on some "potential sharing things and some dollars that are out there."

When asked to list potential examples, board members were told there could be crossover between the city and school district in building operations management, transportation and human resources management.

"The ultimate goal is to provide the best service to the community and to us by working together and not duplicating services," Fagen explained. "...There are some different grants out there that are available. The superintendent talked about one where we maybe could share some services on some of our supervision. ... We're in discussion with the (Clay County) Board of Supervisors and trying to keep that relationship up and talking about like priorities and working together. My goal would be hopefully we can find a time where we could have representation from the school, the county and the city at the same time so we could talk about not only our current, but our long-term thinking."

In other discussion last night, the board narrowed down a list of 19 potential district mottos offered to the following four, which are to be voted on by the public after Christmas:

Learning Today ... Leading Tomorrow

Learning to Live, Living to Learn

Learning for Life

Preparing the Leaders of Tomorrow

Ebeling reported the district's vision and mission statements are still being reviewed and wordsmithed by committee members.

The board also set a Dec. 16 public hearing before its regular board meeting for input on a declaration establishing the old Spencer Middle School building as a "horizontal property regime" and bylaws presented for an "Old Spencer Middle School Condominium Owners Association, Inc."