No members of the public spoke at a Truth and Taxation hearing by the International Falls School Board Monday.
During the hearing, Superintendent Jeff Peura presented the board with information regarding the increase of the 2011 levy by 2.41 percent.
Peura explained that of the district’s $13.4 million revenue stream, the levy totals $2.15 million or 16 percent. He also included that a variety of sources make up all other budgeted revenue equaling $11.2 million or 84 percent of the district’s total revenue stream. These sources include local, state and federal dollars.
“This is a living document,” Peura explained of the budget information. “As our student count hopefully goes up, the amount of state funding will increase.”
Peura added that the biggest part of the district’s expenditure budget is employee’s salaries, wages and benefits. This portion accounts for almost 75 percent of the budget.
“Like I said before, this is a living document and the figures will change as we constantly watch our finances.”
The board accepted the 2010 fiscal year audit report presented by Miller, McDonald, Inc.
Miller, McDonald, Inc., accountant Chris Gruber presented the fiscal year 2010 audit. He explained that the objective of an audit is for his company to express their opinion on Independent School District 361’s financial statements.
Gruber said that the overall, the district did very well and stayed within the small revenue variance margin. During challenging economic times, several districts struggle with budgets and making ends meet, he said.
The audit also included a student enrollment section highlighting 177.59 students living in the district who don’t attend any of the three public schools.
“Kids living in the district who aren’t attending one of your schools is obviously lost money in your eyes,” Gruber said.
This issue sparked a question from board member Stuart Nordquist.
“Are we including students from Indus, Littlefork, open enrollment and the post secondary education option under the 177.59 you have listed?”
Stacy Frederickson, business manager for ISD 361, explained that the roughly 178 students are just those who are open enrolled, meaning they live in the district, yet they attend school in another district.
“We lost at least 200 students overall to all options,” Frederickson said.
Nordquist also questioned the audit’s mention of significant drop in enrollment in the future.
“What will happen is because we have some larger bubble classes right now, they will drop and the number of incoming students in younger grades are lower,” Frederickson said. “This year and next year the drop will be slower, but once the current sophomore and junior class leave the system, the change will be more significant unless the kindergarten numbers pick up.”
“Give me a definition of what you mean by significant,” Nordquist asked. “How many kids?”
Frederickson said it could be a difference of between 50-60 kids, unless something changes.
In other business, the board approved the to hire both Vicky Wickstrom as the West End Elementary School secretary and Rob Fish as a custodian.
FHS Principal Tim Everson presented enrollment figures for the both elementary school and the high school leading into the winter break. The elementary school has a total of 655 students and the high school has 614 students.
