No frills for West Prairie in 2009-2010

By JILLIAN STAMBAUGH

Eagle Staff Writer

West Prairie School District is looking to face what has become a never-ending budget battle for school districts and come out on top, showing a projected $537,712 surplus for the 2009-2010 school year.

The board of education met for their regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, also holding a public hearing on the district budget. With little discussion on the matter and having faced necessary cuts earlier in the year, the budget was approved with revenue totaling $7,228,087 and expenses at $6,690,375.

“I have a lot of confidence in the spending side of the budget – I don’t have confidence in the revenue side of it because we don’t have control over that,” said Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Heerboth after the meeting.

A message from the superintendent’s office provided to outline the budget stated it is a “very tight, fiscally responsible spending plan that allows us to continue to provide a high-quality West Prairie education to all of our students but also keeps us living within our means,” also noting that “we intend to spend district funds on educating children, not on frills.”

State funding is questionable at best; Heeboth noted all the district can do is wait and see what happens with the state education budget and how the district budget could be affected.

“We based it (the budget) on revenue that we should get based on what’s coming to us, but, as we learned last year, if they don’t have it they don’t send it.”

In other business:

• The board approved the boys’ swimming co-op with Macomb School District through 2010-2011.

• The board approved the renewal of West Prairie’s boys and girls track co-op with Bushnell-Prairie City/ Avon.

• The board discussed district maintenance projects that have reoccurred in conversation over the past year, including building roofing projects and the HVAC system at the South Elementary building. The board directed Heeboth to arrange a presentation on the projects in order to review district options.

• The 2009 district report cards were approved; the board will review them in detail next month and they will also be posted online.

• The board approved of soliciting bids for the disposal of four district vehicles, including a Dodge Caravan, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Sable and district bus number 10.

• Applications for recognition of schools were approved.

• In executive session, the board employed Connie Peterson as a paraprofessional pending completion of employment requirements.

• The board also rejected four copier proposals in executive session, directing Heerboth to make changes that would result in lower copying expenses to the district.

• The next West Prairie Board of Education meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m., at West Prairie High School due to parent/teacher conferences.