Superintendent Kyle Hayden told the school board Monday that current proposals from Gov. Sam Brownback and the Legislature could mean $400,000 in reduced funding for USD 464 for the 2011-12 school year.

Hayden spoke of preliminary options for balancing the budget, based on the currently anticipated $400,000 cut:

• Reducing bus routes by 15 percent, including personnel, which would total $100,000.

• Reducing building supply budgets by an additional 5 percent, $25,000.

• Reducing other district department budgets by an additional 5 percent ($75,000)

• Reductions in building para-professional staff positions ($60,000). Also, certified staff ($120,000) through reduced salaries and/or positions due to retirement or resignation. Also, elimination of identified extra-curricular activities ($20,000).

Board member Kay Smith asked about whether there were any trends across the state of cutting middle school athletics, as it had been discussed during the previous school year. Hayden said he thought it was a rarity.

Additionally, he mentioned re-allocations from the general fund of $100,0000 with the textbooks and student materials revolving fund and postponing the K-5 math textbook adoption.

He noted that school districts could have up to 30 percent of general funds in the local option budget. He said the district still has 1.5 percent “to play with there; still a little bit of leeway,” he said.

Anticipated added costs are fuel ($150,000), utilities ($250,000), property insurance ($10,000) and health insurance and administrative, teacher and support staff salaries, dependent on contract negotiations.

USD 464 continues to make cuts as per-pupil state aid continues to decline. The actual 2008-09 state aid was $4,400 per student. Current aid is $3,937 and projected aid for 2011-12 is $3,780.

Looking at trends in recent years as far as budget reductions and fee increases, Hayden mentioned that since 2008-09, certified positions have been reduced by four, classified by 15 and supplemental by 26, adding up to a total payroll deduction of $725,000.

As for parents, they’ve seen a fee increase of $30 in both textbook resource fees and driver’s education fees, $150 for pay-to-ride transportation, $120 for kindergarten fees, $15 in athletics fees and $25 in activities fees. The price of each meal has also jumped by 15 cents in that time.

Principal’s contract renewed by 4-3 vote

Several administrator contracts were renewed by unanimous vote at Monday’s meeting, but one was renewed by a split vote.

The board voted, 4-3, to renew the contract of Tonganoxie Middle School principal Jill Dickerson.

The contract votes came after a 90-minute executive session called for discussion of personnel and student matters.

Voting against renewing Dickerson’s contract were members Kathy Baragary, Leana Leslie and Kay Smith.

Dickerson was hired in 2007 as top administrator for TMS.

By unanimous vote, all other building administrators had contracts renewed: THS principal Jamie Carlisle and assistant principal Brent Smith, THS activities and athletics director Brandon Parker, TES principal Tammie George and assistant principal Ty Poell and TMS assistant principal Mark Altman. Salaries for the administrators will be determined before their new contracts take effect July 1.

The board also gave unanimous nods to renewed contracts for: Tonya Phillips, director of educational programs; Melissa Ostermeyer, transportation director; Larry Easter, facilities and grounds coordinator; and David Milhon, technology coordinator.

After the executive session, the board also approved minutes, bills and treasurer’s report by a 7-0 vote.

The executive session consisted of a 45-minute closed-door meeting and then another 30 minutes and finally another 15 minutes. Carlisle and Parker were invited into executive session five minutes into second session and remained for the rest of the executive sessions. Patron Shirley Duran also was invited into executive session when Carlisle and Parker entered, but was unable to be at the meeting.

Upcoming meetings

The board approved special meetings for the next two Mondays.

At 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, the board will be attending the first informational meeting for the school bond election. HTK Architects also will be at the meeting, which will take place at Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center on the THS campus.

Because more than three members plan to attend, calling of a special meeting is required.

At 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, the board will have its goal-setting session, which was postponed from a previous date because of inclement weather. That meeting is contingent upon Kansas Association of School Board officials being able to attend. It will take place in the THS library on the west campus.

Resignation accepted

The board accepted the resignation of THS drafting instructor Donald Schaeffer. His resignation is effective May 25.

Make-up day, 2011-12 calendar approved

The board approved March 11 as the designated make-up day for inclement weather. Hayden said he planned to discuss the date with Tonganoxie Education Association leaders about utilizing the date, which originally was scheduled as the third quarter teacher preparation and planning day.

The district had gone over its built-in allotted number of inclement weather days.

Board members discussed talk of Gov. Sam Brownback forgiving one of the snow days, but Hayden said he’s heard nothing official from the state about those reports.

The board also approved the 2011-12 calendar. The first day of school will be Aug. 19, 2011; last day of school May 22, 2012. Spring break, which will be the same time as local universities and colleges and other Leavenworth County public schools, will be March 19-23, 2012.