Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott School reports financial shortfall

The Prescott School District is facing a shortfall and board members are planning to call a special meeting to discuss what should be done about it. Requesting a millage increase could be among the items discussed at that meeting. The subject wasnt on the agenda for the May 16 school board meeting, but Prescott Superintendent Hyacinth Deon presented the information as an additional agenda item.

According to Deon, the district was recently evaluated and several immediate needs projects were identified. Those include roofing the fifth and sixth grade buildings, installation of exit signs and surveillance equipment. The good news is that the district is only required to pay a portion of the cost of those projects. The bad news is that the district doesnt have enough to cover its share.

Our part of it is about a quarter of a million dollars, Deon said.

Other needs were also identified in the district, though those were not flagged as immediate and can be put off.

Are we obligated? asked school board member Jo Beth Glass.

You have to do the immediate repairs, Deon answered.

The immediate needs that have been identified all have to do with students being dry and safe, Deon said.

Deon said one option is to enter lease agreements, which would allow the district to pay for the improvements over a period of time.

Im also concerned about having enough to operate on next year, Glass said. She said shes worried that the district will make a financial agreement that they cant meet.

Deon blamed the shortfall on several issues, including declining student enrollment. She said the biggest financial problem facing the district at this point is that you have to have it all. She said the district is required to provide a specific level of education and service, meaning that many areas simply cant be cut from the budget.

Glass asked Deon when the next years budget would be ready, and if that information could be available before the board next meets.

Were working on the salary schedule now, Deon said.

She said she doesnt have all the pieces needed to accurately project the budget, but said she would gather as much information as I can pull together.

The discussion next turned to what would happen if the district were unable to meet the necessary repairs. One possibility is that the district would become responsible for the entire cost, waiving the right to the aid now being offered.

Board members also talked about the potential for the state to take action. Deon said that if the state were to step in, the first things to happen would be that the board is removed and superintendent fired.

Thats not someplace I want to be in my career, Deon said.

Deon said she believes that a millage increase could be the answer. The board agreed that they would meet again in special session over the next few weeks, giving them all time to prepare for the discussion and giving Deon time to gather some requested information.

In other business, the board recognized members of the EAST lab, heard presentations from school officials regarding activities and the various campuses, and took action on several personnel matters. One of those was the hiring of Kelly Fairris, wife of newly hired high school principal Jeff Fairris.