May 22, 2015 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

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Please find attached the Final Official Statement for the following issue:

Independent School District No. 485 (Royalton Public Schools), Royalton, Minnesota
$25,260,000 General Obligation School Building Bonds, Series 2015A
Sold: May 18, 2015
Settlement: June 24, 2015

Alyssa L. Lehnertz, CIPMA
Assistant Vice President
Director of Bond Services

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Please see attached an email from Rep. Ron Kresha.  There is always more to the story than what get's published in our newspapers and on tv.

Mary said our budget can survive two months on a state government shutdown.  After that it will get real hairy.  They'll get it flushed out and setteled before that happens...I hope.  

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I will have Jeff's hire recommendation for the June board meeting.  He will replace Dale Lenz and assist Kevin Pressler in lawn mowing and other grounds work.  Dale will be an on call person to substitute for them when needed.   

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I will have a recommendation in the June board packet to hire Michelle Brezinka as a 12 month employee.  She currently is a 10 month employee.  The extra two months are needed for the growing enrollment and technology we provide to our students and employees.  

When I was a principal it a little smaller school districts we had the same arrangement with a technology director and an assistant.  Hire Michelle 12 months is an affordable and cheaper way of going to have David spend his time on the more technical items.

David has not requested the extra two months of help . . . because he is David.  He was appreciative and relieved to know I'm willing to support help for him. 

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A question came up at the board meeting about added staffing costs with the new facilities.  To avoid confusion there is a difference between added direct costs because of the new facilities and enrollment growth.

New Facilities
Planning on the higher end for costs in the new facilities we could end up adding two (2) cooks and a kitchen helper (1) for a total of $45,069.  Hillyard is completing a study to determine custodial needs.  We'll receive the results and recommendation some time later this summer.

Cook: $10.39 x 7 hours x 170 days = $16,623 - $19,655 depending on health insurance
Kitchen helper:  $9.59 x 3 hours x 170 days = $5,759 (rate varies union vs. non-union)
Full-time entry level custodian:  10.28 (current) x 8 hrs per day x 260 days per year = $27,393 - $32,160 depending on health insurance

Enrollment Growth
We will continue to add staffing (e.g., teachers, paraprofessionals, bus route drivers, etc.) because of enrollment growth.  This is independent of necessary staffing (i.e., custodial and cooks) because of the new facilities.

The added staffing is offset by the revenue generated with additional students.  For example, we will have enough kindergartners next year to add a fourth section.  We receive approximately $6,000 per student.  The class enrollments will probably be somewhere between 20-24.  Being conservative let's assume 20 students x $6,000 = $180,000.  The added teacher and paraprofessional will be approximately $70,000 on the higher end.  $180,000 - $70,000 = $110,000 for all other expenses.

Teacher, BA step 0 = $42,313 - $47,081
Paraprofessional, 6.5 hours per day = $17,356 - $21,124 

***  You can use the above information when explaining additional costs to the public.  There is a difference between directly related staffing costs because of the new facilities and enrollment growth.

I attached the District Operating Budget Impact submitted in the MDE Review and Comment.  We probably underestimated the staffing (cooks and custodians) and overestimated the electricity and gas.  The new building will be more energy efficient.  

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Please see attached the weekly bills for your approval.