“Proactive” step to install carbon monoxide detectors at each school

By Kathryn Schiliro
Managing Editor

At more than 40 percent through the fiscal year, revenues are down but expenditures are right on target as far as the Morgan County Board of Education (BOE) is concerned.
Expenditures as of last month are at 41 percent of the budgeted more than $27 million, according to a monthly financial report presented to the BOE last Monday night.

The school system has spent near $11.3 million as of November, “below where we expected to be at this point in time,” Superintendent Dr. Ralph Bennett said.

However, as has been pointed out before, the board is still waiting on property tax revenues to begin rolling in; this is making the revenue side of the equation less than stellar.

Only near 30 percent of budgeted revenues, to the tune of more than $7.6 million, has been collected. The BOE budgeted near $25.5 million for fiscal year 2013. The biggest chunk of funding to come in this fiscal year so far as been state money totaling near $7.4 million.

In the month of November, the school system’s general operating fund began the month with near $2.3 million. The system brought in more than $2.7 million in receipts and spent more than $2.2 million, leaving the general operating fund with more than $2.8 million.

The BOE maintains a $4 million CD with the Bank of Madison that matures in March 2013.
“We’ve got a good financial report for the month of November,” Bennett said. “We continue to hold our reserves… Revenues continue to be down right now.”
The BOE voted unanimously to OK November’s financial report.

As for the 1 percent sales tax collected by the BOE, ELOST (Education Local Option Sales Tax), this fund began the month with a balance of more than $3.4 million, brought in more than $296,000, spent more than $507,000, and ended November with more than $3.2 million.

There’s an ELOST CD also with Bank of Madison totaling $2 million that matures in March 2013 as well.

The biggest chunk of ELOST money in November, near $439,000, went to Kevin Price General Contractor for the construction of the new Freshman Academy classroom building at the high school, which continues to be ahead of schedule and should be completed this spring, according to Director of Operations Bob Monk.

According to Monk, about $450,000 is still owed to the company.
Monk also informed the board of intentions to spend about $2,000 on carbon monoxide detectors for the system’s schools. At $16 each, he’s planning on purchasing 44 of the detectors. In addition, a portable carbon monoxide monitoring system to the tune of $450 will also be purchased.
The decision to take these “proactive” measures, Monk said, stems from the Dec. 3 carbon monoxide leak at an Atlanta elementary school that hospitalized more than 40 students and adults.
While the state Department of Education does recommend schools have carbon monoxide detectors, there is no law requiring it, Bennett said.

The school nutrition fund ended last month with near $212,000 after starting November with near $210,000. This fund saw more than $130,000 in receipts and more than $128,000 in expenditures.
In other financial news, the BOE voted unanimously to make a near $6,600, or $2 per full-time student, contribution to the Charter System Foundation in fiscal year 2014.

The foundation consists of about 16 charter school systems around the state pooling their resources for the purpose of seeking funding, advocating and lobbying for policy changes at the state level.
“I see potential for us…including monetary return…from public and private sources,” Bennett said.
The decision to send funds to the Charter System Foundation will be re-evaluated by the board annually.

Printed in the December 20, 2012 edition