MACON – Members of the Macon R-I Board of Education heard of a reduction in state funding for the district at Thursday night’s work session.
Superintendent Debbie Livingston told board members that as it looks now two percent of the districts’ formula money will be withheld from the June payment from the state. The amount will be approximately $90,000. “Though the news about state funding is grim, we are not in this alone,” said Livingston. “Macon R-I is in much better financial condition that many schools facing this issue.”
Livingston told the board she met with all but one of the building administrators during the week to look for ways to tighten this year’s budget. Macon R-I receives 37 percent of their money from state funding.
Livingston said many school districts are looking at cutting staff positions and the Parents as Teachers, career ladder and gifted programs. Some districts are also looking to eliminating summer school.
“Summer school is actually the beginning of the 2010-11 school year,” she said. “We will need to make a decision on whether we want to take the gamble on receiving money from the state for summer school by the April meeting.”
Livingston challenged board members to start thinking about the 2010-11 budget. “This board and previous boards have been good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and we are in much better shape that many schools,” said Livingston. “Macon R-I will weather this storm.”
In other action the board received a request for an out of state trip for art students from Linda Samp, art instructor for review before requesting approval at the next meeting.
Members also approved a request from building trades instructor Doyle Cook to begin the bidding process for the building trades project for the 2010-11 school year.
In executive session the board, hired Nathan Gehringer as an elementary custodian.
The next regular meeting of the Macon R-I Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.
