A public hearing to present the Snowflake Unified School District’s plan for proposed additional assistance reductions was held last week, and the plan was then approved by the district governing board.
Business Manager Mark Ollerton explained that state law requires all school districts to hold such hearings, and they must also discuss how they are going to deal with the cuts.
He noted that there is a cut of $923,375 from the state of Arizona, coming from three funds. Fund 601 is used to fix buildings, including carpet, roofs and heating, to maintain the infrastructure of the building. One hundred percent of Fund 625, the Soft Capital fund, was going to the classroom. Fund 690 is the Building Renewal Fund.
“Things are pretty much planned for this fiscal year,” said Ollerton, noting that the budget carryover will be amended to reflect changes.
“We had plans to start buying buses, but we can’t continue that plan,” said Superintendent Hollis Merrell.
“The most important thing is, we’re dealing with the cuts,” said Ollerton. “We have contingencies.”
The business manager said he felt the district would be alright for approximately three years, maybe four years, but noted that you don’t just own a house and let it fall apart, which is what is happening with cuts to funding to maintain buildings.
The governing board approved the proposed district additional assistance reductions.
In other business, the agreement with First Student Services for student transportation was approved with a five percent increase.
James West, location manager for First Student, explained that the firm’s contract with the district states it can receive a three percent increase each year, and since they did not request an increase last fiscal year, they requested five percent this year, still saving the district one percent.
West said that one goal is to purchase new buses, which they have done. Five new buses with white roofs, tinted windows and air conditioning were purchased, and two of those will be wheelchair/ handicapped accessible. The new buses will only be used by the Snowflake District.
The other goal is to increase the pay for all drivers, which creates an opportunity to get better drivers for part-time positions. With the increase in pay, First Student has caught up with the standards and morale is up, explained West.
Merrell said that since West has been working with the district, service has improved, noting, “He is very responsive and quick to take care of any issues that arise.”
The board also approved Dan Rowls to provide speech therapist/assistive technology services for the 2015-16 school year.
The district received one bid for services, and is currently using Rowls.
Merrell noted the local consortium bids were much higher than Rowls’ bid.
