Decatur Schools: They're in the black ... but not out of the woods yet
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
DECATUR ó So far this year, the struggling Decatur School District is under budget, according to the financial statements Superintendent LeRoy Ortman presented at Mondayís townhall meeting. The school, however, is still looking at further budget cuts for next year.
With 30 percent of the school year complete, the district has only used 24 percent of its budget, Ortman said. He predicted the school will continue to stay under budget, in part, because of falling fuel prices.
This yearís budget allows for a 50 percent increase in the price of fuel over last year, but the district spent 50 cents per gallon less on diesel fuel this November than it did last year, and Arkansas Western Gas has cut rates to its customers in the region, Ortman said.
The district received $ 690, 000 in property tax revenues last week and has already paid off the $ 171, 000 loan it took out over the summer for operating money. It put the rest of the money in a bank account with an interest rate of 2. 5 percent.
Original projections ó when the Arkansas State Board of Education took control of the district in July ó showed the schools ending the 2009 school year more than $ 600, 000 in the red. The latest projections show the district ending the year more than $ 250, 000 in the black.
The state Board of Education will meet again in January to review both the Decatur and Greenland School districtsí situation.
At the boardís October meeting, Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Ken James warned both districts that they were ìnot out of the woods yet. î
Although Ortman said he still hasnít received any specific answers as to when Decatur Schools will be out of the woods, he thinks that state officials are positive about the school.
Ortman said he doubts the board will make a decision on the districtís future in January, which would give the struggling district more time to improve.
ì Iím as optimistic as I have been in a long time that this thing will work, î he said.
Even so, Ortman is looking to cut next yearís budget. The district lost close to 70 students this year, and that will cause the district to lose about $ 200, 000 in state funding, Ortman said.
Federal programs coordinator, Bobby King, said that only about 30 of the students transferred to Gravette or Gentry. The rest of the students moved out of the area, possibly because of the closing of Decaturís Black and Decker Plant and the sale of Peterson Farms to Simmons Foods.
To help him make decisions on which programs to cut, Ortman is forming a ì Focus on the Future Group. î The group will consist of 18 to 25 community members, including certified and classified staff, students, community leaders and interested residents.
ì I donít think you want someone like me coming in here and unilaterally making those decisions. Itís not fair to the community and itís not fair to me, î he said.
He planned to meet with the group Tuesday and explain the details of the decisions the school will face and then go out into the community and talk to as many friends, neighbors and family members as possible to get feedback from the people of Decatur.
Some of the programs the district will look at cutting are transportation, sports, cutting back to one cafeteria, offering only one foreign language course, shortening staff contract lengths and cutting back on media and guidance personnel.
Ortman said his ultimate question in making the difficult decisions will be: ì At what point in looking at cuts is it not worth it to have a school anymore ? î
The district will get some money back for declining enrollment and they could still restructure their bonded debt, giving the school a one-time $ 280, 000 boost. There is also the possibility that the state legislature will increase the amount of funding it gives schools when it convenes in January, Ortman said.
ì Itís a little tough to command a sinking ship, î Ortman said with a smile, ìwe just need to do a little repair and weíll make it. î
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