(Spirit Lake)– Issues surrounding the budget highlighted Monday’s Spirit Lake school board meeting.
The board, at the recommendation of Superintendent David Smith, will meet sometime yet this month with Larry Siegel, an expert on school finance with the Iowa State Association of School Boards. Smith said Siegel can help the board set specific targets for future projects.
Smith added he and staff continue to work on an operations budget for the Sami Center and hope to have one put together by next month’s board meeting.
Smith says they’re also closely monitoring the current line item budget looking for additional savings, including the possibility of revamping some bus routes for better efficiency. He says thermostats in each of the district’s buildings have been lowered one degree and that pipes have been drained and the heat to the old administrative building has been turned off altogether.
There once again was discussion on the district’s early retirement policy for certified and non-certified staff and whether a policy similar to one from last year should be reinstated. Smith told the board he wants more time before making a recommendation, saying he wants to see what other districts are doing and to study the impact it would have on the district’s Management Fund.
There was also discussion over the possibility of putting another proposal for a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy before the voters. Such an election could happen as early as February 2nd. Smith told the board the PPEL could fund improvements to the district’s technology program, making it possible for every student in grades 5-12 to have their own laptop computer, along with a technology upgrade for K-4 students.
Funds could also be used for additional geothermal units at the high school, additional wind turbine, replacement of the track, and a new concession stand and restrooms. However, Smith suggested limiting the PPEL to just technology upgrades may be the best way to win support with the majority of voters. Smith added he wants to get a better handle on costs for the upgrades before putting together a formal recommendation to the board that would call for an election.
