I had stated previously that I would be writing another blog on March 8 on the subject of moving the middle school and positive steps necessary to promote an increase of students in the school district. Yesterday, there were too many other things going on, but I will write about these subjects sometime before the next school board meeting.
The school board met last night in a budget work session. Dr. Cook gave a Power Point presentation on the proposed EBCSD budget that included various reductions in expenses which would result in savings of around $475,000. The reporters for the Ottumwa Courier and the Albia Union-Republican papers were at the meeting and their news stories should be published in the next few days. I probably will write my comments on that meeting on Friday or Saturday.
Last night’s discussion did not include any direct discussion of moving the middle-school nor were any cost savings of such a move included in the proposed budget that will be published in the paper in the next few days. The schedule for future meetings was announced by Ed Glenn, the school board president, as follows:
The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2010 at the Blakesburg Middle School at 6:00 p.m. A public hearing on the budget will be held at the start of the meeting. After the public hearing, the board will vote on the budget. Another work session or two will be held in early April to discuss other “possible” cost saving measures – primarily moving the middle school to Eddyville. There may be one or two meetings on “possible” cost savings when the board will allow public input. Then another meeting will be scheduled, perhaps at the board’s regular monthly meeting in April, where the board will vote on this issue.
After weeks of discussion by the appointed 15-member Cost Savings Committee and after receiving the committee’s proposals, I was surprised that the issue of moving the middle-school was not discussed by the school board at last night’s meeting and included as part of the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The initial proposal for moving the middle school was made by the school superintendent at the September school board meeting, five months ago. If such a proposed move were to take place either this year or next year, it would certainly have a major financial impact on all aspects of the upcoming budget.
A budget should be a realistic financial plan for the next year, and the public should be made aware of the plan prior to any public hearing on the budget. That is the reason the state requires a public hearing on budgets – to allow public input and comment on the entire financial plan for the coming year. It should not be a partial plan or an incomplete budget.