DUKE CENTER — The Otto-Eldred school board received an update Tuesday evening from superintendent Matthew Splain and business manager Brenda Long on the development of the 2017-18 budget.
Using current projections, with no additional revenue, the deficit between revenue and expenditures would be $950,000. Of that amount, $400,000 is a capital reserve transfer, which the district is setting aside in a reserve account for future building needs.
Additional considerations totaling about $300,000 were provided to the board, which included additional state revenue, reductions in projected special education costs as well as possible reductions in transportation costs.
Splain stressed that considering any property tax increase would be difficult for the community. The state has yet to commit to funding public education appropriately, she said, yet the House of Representatives has approved $75 million in EITC tax credits and has yet to address cyber school costs and an education budget shortfall that continues to grow at the state level.
Additionally, she said placing more of a burden on local residents is not the answer to the state’s financial issues.
Meanwhile, in staffing, updated secretarial job descriptions were approved along with the full-time employment of Amy Coffman. A new secretary of student accounting was created and will be filled by current secretary Suzanne Strait.
Additional contractual days and salaries were approved for cafeteria manager Chris Krott and assistant principal Lindsay Burns. As of July 1, both had contracts extended to 240 days per year. Cody Cochran was also approved to serve as a volunteer for the track and field team.
The board received another update on the accounting of the Otto-Eldred Education Foundation, a non-profit organization with funds held and managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation. Earnings from investments for 2015-16 far exceeded any previous earnings seen with self-managed funds.
In other news, Sundahl Insurance was selected as the district’s insurance agent of record. District administrators expect to realize savings through the consolidation of insurance purchasing.
Various field trips were approved. The senior class received permission to visit New York City on May 23 for their class trip. Several students will visit Jamestown Community College’s Cattaraugus County Campus in Olean and Jamestown Business College for a tour and presentations.
Fawn Miller was granted permission to take her students to the Envirothon at the Keating Sportsmen’s Club in Smethport on April 11and May 9. Another group was granted permission to take part in the Pitch Perfect Business Competition.
