Published: June 26, 2008 12:29 pm            

School saves funds for coming hard times

BRAY — Bray-Doyle Public Schools is going to carry close to $400,000 over into the coming 2008-09 school year, according to the financial report presented to the Bray-Doyle Board of Education by Superintendent Kevin McKinley.

It’s a good thing too, McKinley said.

“With everything coming up, fuel prices, the shortfall in the lottery and the $450 step raise that teachers are going to get, you better have a reserve,” McKinley said. “I’m just preparing for hard times.”

McKinley said that some schools have already consolidated, but to expect more trouble.

“I think you’ll see larger schools having a problem,” he said.

The money being carried over includes the repayment of $150,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.

McKinley said during the meeting that the amount being carried over is almost $200,000 more than the amount the school was able to carry over from last year.

“The storm is coming, I assure you,” McKinley told the board. “The people that I’ve talked that have been in this business a long time are saving up money like we are.”

In other business:

• McKinley discussed giving support employees a 5.6 percent raise increase. McKinley said that they would address 12-month employees first.

• The board approved changes to the board’s policy handbook.

• The motion to pay $16,245 from the child nutrition to the general fund for employee lunches was approved by a 5-0 vote.

• In discussing plans, McKinley said that he wanted to get a visitors fieldhouse built close to the football field. He also said that the board should consider adding restrooms to the elementary school for teachers.

• The school received a defibrillator donated by the Bray Fire Department. McKinley said that he needed two more defibrillators for the school.

• The board approved to pay back the interest earned and petty cash to the general fund, 5-0.

• Payroll expenditures were approved by a 5-0 vote.

• After purchasing a new SUV for school use, the old vehicle was kept for future use. McKinley said that even though the old SUV needs mechanical work, it could come in handy.

“We are always running short of vehicles,” McKinley said. “Remediation may cause the school to have to transport a student home. If a student is under suspension, we expect their parents to transport them. However, we may have to take a student home if we are doing what we want for that child.”

• McKinley informed the board that a new state legislation will prevent students from missing more than 15 days in any class, which would prevent some extracurricular activities from taking place during school hours, such as livestock shows, softball, basketball and baseball tournaments.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.