By Jolene FarleySuperintendent Dave Deragisch presented a preliminary 2003-04 budget to Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members at their Monday meeting."Hopefully you keep in mind and understand this is a working budget," he told the board, noting that the budget will undergo changes throughout the year. Total revenues for the 2003-04 school year are estimated at $2,878,828, compared with last year’s $2,933,277. The totals reflect a $54,449 difference in state aid. The district’s four Title programs received substantial cuts with last year’s total of $67,063 and this year’s total $53,693."Those are areas where somehow we have to see if we can recoup our revenue," Deragisch said.On the plus side, the district is eligible for equalization aid in the amount of $27,890. This aid wasn’t received last year and likely won’t be received next year, Deragisch said. Food service is eligible for $96,000 aid, $7,000 less than last year. Expenses for 2003-04 are estimated at $109,612."It’s going to make the spread a little bit wider," said Deragisch. Total expenses for the 2003-04 school year are estimated at $2,878,668, total expenses for last year were $2,926,881. Debt service expenses increased from $157,010 last year to $182,000 this year, due to the building project.The district is eligible for a base of $4,601 in aid per student with different grade levels weighted at different dollar amounts. "When the smoke clears, it’s going to be very tight again this year," Deragisch said. "We try to keep things balanced, but this year and next are going to be tight."Special education bill owed to Luverne districtDeragisch told the board a special education bill owed to the Luverne School System has climbed to $139,664.The amount is owed for special education services provided for H-BC students who have open-enrolled into the Luverne district.The Luverne district has balances on their books for Hills-Beaver Creek back to the 1999-2000 school year. A $20,000 payment was remitted earlier this summer, according to Deragisch."It’s a bill we have had for quite a long time," Deragisch said. He presented three options to the board. The first option is to pay the bill in its entirety, the second is to request an arbitration hearing, the third is to negotiate a reduced fee with the Luverne district.Deragisch asked for direction on which option the board would like him to pursue. "We have to research the history of this," board member Gary Esselink said. Deragisch said he would contact the former superintendent and present all the information at the next board meeting.Deragisch added special education aid goes to the district the student attends, so the bills are for costs incurred over and above the state aid amount. Levy approved by boardThe board approved a preliminary levy of $329,930 payable 2004, which is an increase of about 10 percent over last year’s levy.Deragisch recommended the board approve raising the levy amount the maximum allowed by law. The board can always reduce the approved amount, but cannot increase it.A figure must be submitted to Rock County and the state by Tuesday, Sept. 30. "We can’t afford to reduce our levy," Deragisch said. Long-term rental of elementary facilityThe New Life Celebration Church has asked to rent the H-BC elementary gym, commons and media center for Sunday services. Current rental fees are $40 for the gym, $18 for the commons and $15 for the media center. Board member Lloyd DeBoer commented that the heat is usually turned down in the gym on Fridays and not turned back up until Monday morning unless there is an event scheduled. Since no custodian is on duty during the weekend, the board discussed snow removal and tracking into the facility. Deragisch told the board that with more than 150 people using the facility every weekend, there could be a chance more students would open enroll into the H-BC district from neighboring districts. The board directed Deragisch to investigate snow removal and liability issues. Representatives from New Life Church will be invited to the Monday, Oct. 13 board meeting.Pledge mandateThe board approved a policy on the Pledge of Allegiance, per new Minnesota legislation requiring districts to do so.The school’s policy generally states that elementary students recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily, as they have been doing. High school students will start saying the Pledge on Monday mornings by intercom, according to Deragisch. The new law requires districts to have a Pledge policy on record, but it allows individual students or teachers to choose not to participate.
