Federal Hocking Local School District has eliminated about $600,000 from its $1.8 million projected debt for 2008, but whether another $40,000 reduction will come from pay-to-play sports and other cuts will have to wait until June.
Treasurer Bruce Steenrod said teacher cuts, lower health insurance rates and bookkeeping corrections led to $600,000 in budget reductions. According to local estimates that put the district's debt at $1.4 million ' the state projected $1.8 million in debt ' projections for next year show $843,000 in debt for the fiscal year 2008 beginning July.
Superintendent James Patsey suggested a $50 charge for each student per year to play a sport , a motion that was tabled at last night's meeting. The administration created the proposals May 9, which did not give the board much time to review them, said Steenrod said.
With 250 athletes in the district from grade 7 to grade 12, the district could raise $12,500, Patsey said. Among other proposed reductions, the board looked at a proposal to eliminate six coaching positions, which could save $11,240, and cutting an activities bus, which would save $9,000.
Board member Margaret Cooper said she was opposed to a pay-to-play fee because sports provide a sense of balance to students and some might transfer to another school district if the fee is implemented.
If we look hard and work hard
we can find another way Cooper said.
Board member John Young said the board must look at the sports cuts to be fair because it has already cut 18 teaching and staff positions, a move that led to a grievance from the Federal Hocking Teachers Association.
The board discussed the matter during an executive session, and Dan Dailey, school board president, declined to comment on events during the session.
Guysville resident David Tilley said many parents will not be able to afford the pay-to-play fee and feel the district could be doing more to reduce the debt without placing the burden on families, but others in attendance supported it.
Parent Chris Adams approved of the pay-to-play option, but advocated scholarships for students who could not afford the fee.
The board did approve measures to increase school lunch, field trip and school fees because of increasing prices. But these changes only combat rising costs of fuel and school operations to break even, Patsey said.
Dailey said the $600,000 debt reduction is a major accomplishment, but they still have work to do, even if the district enters into a fiscal emergency in July and receives financial support from the state.
We're broke Dailey said. We don't have to worry about money. We don't have any.
17
Archives
Jessie Balmert
