BY ROSE SCHMITT
COVINGTON, Ind. — An assessment error near $15 million could cost Covington School Corp. around $212,000 from its budgeted levy.
Superintendent Nate Evans told the Covington School Board on Monday night how a major error on the assessed value of woodlands in Fulton, Troy and Wabash townships in Fountain County will cause the school district to lose around $212,490 in funding.
Evans said the district will lose funding in all six of its major funds, including $95,790 from its general fund, $42,105 from its debt services fund, $47,145 from its capital projects fund, $19,305 from its transportation fund, $7,860 from its bus replacement plan, and $285 from its preschool and special education fund.
The $212,000 will be subtracted from the school’s December tax distribution. Evans discussed some of the ways the school will deal with the shortfall, including delaying administrative and non-certified raises until January, canceling summer school, not accepting purchase orders until January, and not allowing major field trips until January.
“We will weather the storm the best we can until we get to January,” Evans said.
Financial relief will come in January when the 2008 budget goes into effect.
In other business, board members:
-- Received the Gary Sandifer Award from Kathy Walker, who represents the Tobacco Cessation Group for Fountain County.
Sandifer died from lung cancer before he turned 50 years old; he had promised that he would give up smoking when he turned 50. Covington was eligible for the award since it passed a tobacco-free policy. Also in attendance were several high school cheerleaders who are members of Teens Against Tobacco Use who thanked the school board for implementing the tobacco-free policy.
Walker said tobacco-free policies are being applied throughout the state, especially in hospitals and schools.
“It is helping to change the social norm,” Walker said.
The board discussed that tobacco-free means not only is tobacco use not allowed in school buildings, but also it is not allowed on any area of the school campus including parking lots and sports fields.
-- Approved all personnel recommendations including the approval of the non-certified 2007-08 handbook, the retirement of second-grade teacher Laura Hacquet at the end of the 2008-09 school year, and the immediate resignation of Anna Starkey, an elementary school aide who has accepted a position with North Montgomery School Corp. as a middle school guidance counselor.
-- Learned from Evans the school corporation’s average daily attendance is estimated at 915 students. The number would be 954, but only half of all kindergarten students are counted toward the attendance. Attendance should be up by 11 to 15 students more than last year and should result in 3 percent new money for the school corporation.
-- Held a public hearing of the 2008 budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan. There are no major changes from the 2007 budget. The school board will adopt the 2008 budget at its next meeting.
-- Passed the bus replacement fund resolution, which will save the school corporation $70,000 to $80,000, since it allows for the contracted bus replacement price to be paid from the bus replacement fund instead of from the transportation fund.
-- Granted the graduation request of Katie Cronkite, who will graduate after six semesters at the end of her junior year. Cronkite wants to get an early jump on her college career.
-- Awarded the milk and dairy bid to Prairie Farms, the school’s only bidder.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Covington School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. EDT Sept. 10 at the superintendent’s office.
