Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Nevada School Board Passes Budget, Again

Computer problems at the state level caused the Nevada School Board to call a special meeting to pass a budget for the 2000-2001 academic year.

Superintendent Rick McAfee told the board, Thursday, Sept. 14, it had been a trying time with the state's computer being down, and the Arkansas Department of Finance Administration and Arkansas Department of Education only recently getting the figures to the district so a budget could be drawn up.

The budget had to be approved so it could be submitted to the state by Friday, Sept. 15.

McAfee said this year's budget from the state was 37 pages long, with several new items included. He reminded the board this is a flexible budget, not a fixed one, because the district will work from the revenue it anticipates coming in from taxes.

Still, the district will be cutting it close as the budget is $14,300 less than the anticipated revenues.

The loss of 51 students, he said, resulted in $150,000 less in revenue from the state, but this was partially offset by cutting $85,000 from teacher's salaries.

This reduction in salaries, however, came from attrition and the district not replacing teachers who left. No salaries were reduced for any current employee.

In addition, the budget includes $42,000 for a new diesel bus. This, McAfee said, was done in order to avoid going through the revolving loan program and having to pay interest on the borrowed money.

Along with this, he said, a teacher underpayment, found by the auditors, was included at $13,000. However, the Arkansas Educational Association has challenged the amount, saying it should be adjusted up, and the case is now in the hands of a federal judge.

McAfee said if no decision is made before the Arkansas Legislature meets next year, the state could pick up the tab and save the district this money. "I have no idea of the outcome."

Board member Don Callicott questioned McAfee as to raises and bonuses for teachers this year.

McAfee said this wasn't planned for in the budget, but the state is saying it will give teachers a $1,500 raise this year, and the district would have to pay $400 of this per teacher.

In other business, McAfee informed the panel two people from the state came to inspect operation of the lunchroom and suggested reducing the staff by two people to help cut its budget.

These people were reassigned.

McAfee said lunchroom problems are common across the state as this department isn't as financially stable as it used to be. One reason for this, he added, is the state commodities have been reduced, forcing school districts to spend more on food.

Additionally, he said, the district was able to get more students to participate in the free and reduced lunch program, and this should help with the finances as well.

Students in the Nevada district are in the middle of taking the SAT-9 tests this week.

A rally was held for them Friday, Sept. 15, to help get them "charged up" so they can do their best on these tests.

Martha Hale was reassigned from the lunchroom to a special education aide, with Reginald Marsh conditionally hired as a special ed aide, contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

The board also approved continuing the district's tuition agreement with the Emmet School District. There are seven students involved this year.