By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek Superintendent Dave Deragisch expressed concern about possible state aid cuts to the board at a Monday meeting.
A state aid payment is expected this month, according to Deragisch. He said a "buy nothing" policy could be put in place if the payment is cut during Minnesota Governor Pawlenty’s budget negotiations.
"If we’re being affected now by the cuts, we’re going to have to stop buying things," he said. "It hurts the kids. When teachers buy things, it’s for the kids."
Deragisch went on to say the H-BC district currently has a healthy fund balance and he feels sorry for some other area schools that aren’t as fortunate.
He also informed the board that many of the programs funded by the Rock County Collaborative last year, including reading, math, and writing nights, Book of the Week Club and the Kid Care After School Program, are in jeopardy unless the programs can cash flow.
"A lot of the money we use for the Collaborative is gone," he said. "It‘s all part of the hurt."
In another cut, school districts are now forced to pay for pre-inspections of school buildings for health and safety issues. This service is used to help officials correct any issues before an Occupational, Safety, and Health Administration inspection.
Before the cuts, the Department of Children, Families and Learning paid for the preventative service.
"She goes through the building and makes recommendations," said Deragisch.
The district has received a $352 bill for the 2002-03 school year. Cost of the service is determined by the square footage of the inspected buildings.
H-BC to pair with Edgerton in track
The board voted to pair with Edgerton in track. The team, with less than 10 Edgerton students, will be called Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton.
"We should make it clear we’re not going there to practice," said board member Matt Larson.
The track team uses the track in Luverne and Rock Rapids, Iowa, to practice. Tom Goehle is the track coach.
"I think it’s important as small schools that we work together," said board member Ann Boeve. "We need each other."
Board changes
student accounts
The board voted to change the Patriot Millwork checking account so that each year the balance is zeroed out, not carried over from year to year.
Auditors recommended the change to comply with Department of Children, Families and Learning recommendations to "clean up" an estimated $250 million held in student activity accounts in the state of Minnesota.
"It would be severing our association with Patriot Millworks," said Deragisch. "It will be run like a business now."
All revenues, expenses and payroll would run through the account. Any profit would be used to purchase supplies for the next year or new equipment.
Boeve asked if students could earn a business credit by participating in Patriot Millworks.
"When you have an account that has that kind of dollars running in and out of it, it’s a lot of work," she said.
Virus causes absenteeism
More than 40 students, or one-third of the elementary students, were absent Monday with a virus. School nurse Lois Leenderts submitted forms, required when there is a severe increase in student absences, to the Department of Health.
