School board approves budget

By JOE SOVA

Hungry Horse News

Breezing through most of the agenda with only brief discussion, the Columbia Falls School District 6 Board of Trustees approved a budget totaling $19,940,564 for the 2007-08 school year during Monday night's regular meeting.

According to District 6 Business Manager/Clerk Dustin Zuffelato, the overall budget is about $1.65 million larger than the 2006-07 budget. Zuffelato explained that there are two primary factors leading to the increase.

Full-day kindergarten is the big change in the district for 2007-08, and Zuffelato said that about $400,000 was budgeted for the 70 kindergartners coming in, thanks to legislation for the program. That is part of a $785,000 increase in the elementary school budget.

There will be about 40 more students at Columbia Falls High School than last year, most of that number represented by the Columbia Falls Learning Center, in its second year. The center allows students to focus on one class/subject at a time, and they can gain credits quickly, Zuffelato said. Therefore, the boost in high school enrollment is reflected in a $320,000 increase in that portion of the general budget.

The breakdown on the $14,911,897 general budget for 2007-08: $9,528,372 for the elementary and $5,383,525 for the high school.

Before the final budget was approved by unanimous vote, School District 6 Superintendent Michael Nicosia briefed trustees on significant changes in the general budget. There was considerable shuffling of funds from one part of the overall budget to another, and the good news is that there was practically no reduction in force, of RIF, in the district.

Mill levies help to finance education in school systems, and Nicosia pointed out to trustees that the total mills went from 217 to more than 223 for 2007-08. That is due to an overall increase in total enrollment, from 2,451 in 2006-07 to a projected 2,583 this school year. That hike is mostly due to the addition of full-day kindergarten.

The district had an enrollment high of 2,724 in 1997-98, and Nicosia said it has taken 10 years to reach that "former high-water mark." There were 27.86 mills levied in '98-99 and 28.75 for this year.

Highlights of the elementary in terms of the new budget include these additions: 1.0 FTE (full-time equivalent) for regular instruction at Ruder Elementary; 1.0 FTE regular instruction moved from the class size reduction federal grant funding; 1.27 FTE for the At-Risk Program; and .25 FTE junior high physical education instructor. Full-time kindergarten represents an additional 5.0 FTE certified staff and 9.0 FTE para-educators. A technology levy authorized by voters during the fiscal year 2006 election was removed, a savings of $139,500. This increase in over-base mills was absorbed by personnel costs.

Changes, in dollar amounts, in the high school budget were generally smaller. Some of those highlights: additions/increases, 2.14 FTE regular instruction, moved from Title I federal grant funding ($123,364); .20 FTE to include curriculum director in the general fund as opposed to miscellaneous programs; .25 FTE for the special education director, moved from the high school general fund; and increased the maintenance/custodial supply budget by $22,691. Eliminations/decreases, 1.0 FTE library aide; decreased textbook budget that was authorized by voters in the FY 2006 election ($76,361 was authorized and this amount was decreased by $33,892); and removed the technology budget authorized in the 2006 election ($35,000 was authorized and this amount was decreased by $15,951).

Also during Monday's meeting, there was extensive discussion of the Interlocal Transportation Agreement, for which the board held a work session last week. The agreement is between School District 6 and Glacier Elementary, sharing the cost of the contract for busing students on the West Glacier Elementary route. In a new proposal by West Glacier, the proportion of over-schedule costs during 2007-08 would be based on ridership, which is projected at 87 percent District 6 and 13 percent West Glacier students, as opposed to the 50-50 split identical to last year.

"We can run that route for $17,000 (a year)," Nicosia said.

Nicosia recommended that District 6 continue the 50-50 contract for this school year. A decision on the issue was tabled until the Aug. 27 work session. That begins at 7 p.m.

Trustees accepted the resignation of junior high para-educator Linda Hopkins, who will teach at Canyon Elementary. Approved for hiring were: George Scherman, high school industrial arts teacher; Jessica Falcon, clerical assistant; Cindy Burr, special education/curriculum secretary; Cami Bowler, junior high home economics teacher; Alida Wright, from .50 FTE to .70 FTE speech and language therapist; and Denise Lingo, .50 FTE speech and language therapist. A maternity leave request by high school English teacher Alyson Dorr was also approved.

Reduction in force recommendations for hot lunch servers and/or helpers that were approved: Kristian Chester, 1.75 hours/day; Beverly Freeman, 2.0 hours/day; Teresa Hughes, 2.5 hours/day; and Colleena McCullough, 1.5 hours/day.