Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
At their regular meeting on Monday, August 14, the New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board received an update regarding the district’s 2023-24 preliminary budget.
During their July meeting, board members were given a preliminary budget with unanswered questions regarding projected revenue, whereas the updated budget presented by NR-S Business Manage Dave Skogen on Monday has more complete information.
According to Skogen, NR-S can expect $3,094,336.75 in foundation aid for the 2023-24 school year – a nearly $200,000 increase over the previous year.
The reason for the increase, said Skogen, is because the district is projected to have additional enrollment for the coming school year, as well as a 4 percent increase in per student payment due to legislation passed during the latest legislative session in Bismarck.
Meanwhile, the district is also projected to collect $1,243,170 in property taxes, an increase of just over $60,000 from the projected property tax revenue in last year’s final budget.
Skogen said the increase is due to a rise in property valuations. In Eddy County, for example, they increased by 6.17 percent.
Regarding expenditures, Skogen noted that some costs aren’t guaranteed due to inflation – such as fuel, natural gas and electricity. However, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is projecting decreases in those expenditures compared to the previous year.
Skogen also noted that the school is projected to save some money this year due to staffing changes. He explained that the district is employing five “long-term substitutes,” who don’t receive benefits because they’re not yet certified teachers.
Consequently, Skogen said the school is saving more than $20,000 in benefits per long-term substitute. Therefore, he cautioned that those savings can’t be expected to last if those long-term substitutes get certified by the time they’re budgeting for the 2024-25 school year.
Meanwhile, the price for special education services provided by the East Central Center for Exceptional Children (East Central) is projected to increase by nearly $64,000.
Skogen said the reason for the increase, at least in part, is due East Central’s decision to offer insurance benefits to their paraprofessionals.
All totaled, the district is projected to spend $5,012,595.23 in the coming school year.
Of that, 91 percent will go towards salary, benefits, and fixed expenses such as electricity, insurance, etc.
The remaining 9 percent ($449,936.64) will go towards textbooks, supplies, dues and fees, travel, etc.
Meanwhile, the district is projected to receive $5,059,039.54 in revenue – $46,444.31 more than their projected expenses.
Also during Monday’s meeting, board members carried a motion to apply for a grant that would help pay for a school board training program.
The grant, if awarded, would help pay for the “Be Legendary School Board Leadership Institute.”
According to the Summary for Proposed Action, “Several board members have expressed an interest in additional training regarding roles and responsibilities of board members both as individuals and as a governance organization.
“... the Be Legendary School Board Leadership Institute is a two-day training that is focused on equipping leaders with the tools needed to adopt a student outcome-focused governance model.”
The board members agreed they’ll discuss the subject again once they find out if they were awarded the grant.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., and preceding that meeting, a public levy meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m.
