By Kathryn Schiliro
Managing Editor

Receipts and expenditure by the county Board of Education (BOE) almost canceled each other out last month– there was more than $2.6 million and more than $2.4 million in the general fund, respectively, in October.
According to information presented to the BOE Monday, Nov. 12, the fund began the month with a balance of just over $2 million and ended the month at almost $2.3 million.
"We're where we were last year about this time," Superintendent Dr. Ralph Bennett told the board.
At one-third through the fiscal year, the board has, to date, collected almost 3 percent of the amount budgeted to come from locally generated property tax revenues. This won't pick up until January, Bennett reminded the board.
The board also has $4 million in reserves stored in a Bank of Madison CD.
To date the board has collected just over $5 million.
"This is why we have to have those reserves," BOE Chairman Nelson Hale said. "If we didn't, we would have to borrow [money to pay salaries]."
However, the board is at 33 percent of budgeted expenditures. At 33 percent through the fiscal year, the board is "right on target," Hale said.
The 1 percent sales tax levied by the BOE, ELOST, came to around $294,000 in October, down from the monthly average of about $303,000, Director of Operations Bob Monk said.
The ELOST fund began the month with more than $3.6 million. After receipts and almost $529,000 in expenditures, ended last month with $3.42 million.
More than $494,000 was spent in construction fees for the new classroom building at the high school, still on track to be completed around March 2013, and more than $17,000 was spent in work on the greenhouse at the middle school.
The ELOST fund also has $2 million, meant for construction of a new school when the time comes, stored in a Bank of Madison CD.
In other BOE news:
• The board welcomed newly elected member Erica Veasley, who will take Minnie Peek's place as the District 1 representative.
• There are 3,305 students in the school system, a decrease of 11 from last month.
The state's long-term enrollment projections for the system actually show a decrease over time, Bennett said, but those projections were based on 2009-2010 data collected prior to Baxter International and Caterpillar's stakes in the area.
• It's time again for the system to come up with a two-year school calendar. System administration will be putting together a System Calendar Task Force made up of community members for feedback and development of the calendar. A final recommendation for the board is expected at the February meeting.
• The system's Race to the Top grant application was submitted to the federal Department of Education (DOE) on Oct. 29. The system is requesting $9.2 million. A decision from the DOE is expected by next month's end.
• Work being completed on Kingston, Brownwood and Davis Academy roads in having a minimal effect on bus routes, Monk said, and he expects the detour bus route, in place due to work on Old Buckhead Road, to be eliminated by year's end.
The county currently runs 42 bus routes utilizing 36 buses, five small buses and one that travels to Rutland in Athens daily.
• The board approved last month's recommendation to revise a policy regarding how high school students were classified in regard to grade promotion and retention; several overnight and out-of-state field trips; a request from Remembrance Community Church to meet on Sundays at the elementary school; and a personnel list that included the resignation of a school nurse and special education teacher, both from the primary school.

Printed in the November 22, 2012 edition