Finances Dominate Warsaw School Board Agenda
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Several of those items involved finances and were presented by Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott.
Under his recommendation, the board approved to participate in the Bond Bank 2008 Year-End Assistance Program.[[In-content Ad]]Warsaw Community Schools first borrowed through the bond bank program in January as it had for years. Because of further delays to property tax billings and receipts, Scott said, the school corporation borrowed again in September. Upon notification that not all 2008 property tax receipts would be received until after the first of 2009, it was decided to participate in the assistance program so that repayment of 2008 borrowing is moved from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31.
The cost of the program is a $3,250 administrative fee plus an additional month of interest.
Scott then requested the school board approve a resolution confirming resolution for participation and issuing of tax anticipation warrants with the Indiana Bond Bank for 2009.
Scott told the board that Warsaw Schools, like other school districts, uses borrowing to supplement cash balance and soften cash flow swings. The resolution would allow the school corporation to do that.
Since the state is taking over all schools' general funds beginning in January, Scott said they do not need to borrow money for that fund. However, the money will need to be borrowed for debt service, transportation and capital projects funds.
Warsaw Community Schools has participated in the Indiana Bond Bank program since 1989.
According to the cost analysis, the interest on these warrants is expected to be near or below market level. Appropriation to cover the interest expense was included in the debt service fund's 2009 budget. Bond sizing will be performed by Crowe Chizek and is expected to be about $3.95 million.
The school board approved the resolution to participate in the bond bank.
In 2007, the IRS changed rules regarding 403(b) plans. Scott said 403(b) is much like industry's 401(k) plans and is a tool for teachers to set aside money for retirement.
To comply with the new rules, Scott said, Warsaw Schools had to revise its 403(b) plan document and make corresponding changes on forms used by the plan participants.
The school board adopted the changes.
As Warsaw Schools moves forward with its building project, easements for utilities may need to be provided. Monday, the school board approved for Indiana-American Water Co. Inc. to have access to run water lines to the new Madison Elementary School that will be built.
Scott said the 20-foot-wide easement will run along the front of the new Madison and will be measured from the center of the road.
Max Reed, attorney for Warsaw Schools, said, "Based on the information I got at this point, Indiana-American Water Co. is not asking us to pay for them to run water lines up to the Madison site."
However, Board Vice President Dan Robinson said he thinks they'll make them pay for work. He expressed his unhappiness with being forced by the state legislature to comply with the German-owned corporation's requirements.
Reed said Madison wouldn't have any water until they did, and the easement granted to the water company is permanent.
"Having no choice, I go ahead and make a motion to approve this," Deb Wiggins, school board member, said. The motion was approved, reluctantly by some of the board members.
Year-end appropriations also were approved to be transferred. By regulation, a school corporation must finish the calendar year with appropriations in program accounts either at zero or with a positive balance. A transfer of appropriations can help meet that requirement.
With negotiations beginning in the fall, the Warsaw Community Education Association and the school board approved the master contract agreement and certified salary recommendations yesterday.
The contract will run through June 30, 2011, according to Interim Superintendent Ralph Bailey. He said the contract increase for salaries will average about 2.38 percent plus the increment available to applicable staff members. The contract is effective retroactive to July 1, 2008.
Approval of administrative contracts, non-licensed 2009 support personnel wages and salary recommendations for administrative and special services personnel services was tabled until the Jan. 19 meeting.
Instead, Wiggins made a motion "that it be understood that the board intends to research, review and approve appropriate wage increases for support staff, administrative employees, special services employees and at-will employees.
"To facilitate this review and approval, the board authorizes the formation of a salary and wage review task force, to consist of at least one administrator, Chris Gensinger, and at least one board member, Deb Wiggins, as its initial members. The task force may seek additional members."
Under Wiggins' motion, the task force is to research and review salary structures, employment contracts, at-will personnel information and authorization forms, the performance review time schedule and merit pay and any other issues pertaining to the process for salary and wage approvals by the board.
The task force, her motion states, is to have prepared for discussion at the board's January executive meeting and for action at its January board meeting, recommendations on the following items regarding support staff, administrative employees, special services employees and at-will employees: a procedure for future salary and wage review and approval by the board; contracts for personnel information and authorization forms; and new or additional incentives that would affect salary or wages.
Her motion was approved by the full school board.
Revisions to the elementary school handbook were approved. With the changes, all of Warsaw's elementary schools will follow the same handbook.
The first reading of the middle school handbook revisions was given. The board will be asked to approve those in January. If approved, Lakeview and Edgewood middle schools will follow the same handbook instead of having their own.
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Several of those items involved finances and were presented by Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott.
Under his recommendation, the board approved to participate in the Bond Bank 2008 Year-End Assistance Program.[[In-content Ad]]Warsaw Community Schools first borrowed through the bond bank program in January as it had for years. Because of further delays to property tax billings and receipts, Scott said, the school corporation borrowed again in September. Upon notification that not all 2008 property tax receipts would be received until after the first of 2009, it was decided to participate in the assistance program so that repayment of 2008 borrowing is moved from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31.
The cost of the program is a $3,250 administrative fee plus an additional month of interest.
Scott then requested the school board approve a resolution confirming resolution for participation and issuing of tax anticipation warrants with the Indiana Bond Bank for 2009.
Scott told the board that Warsaw Schools, like other school districts, uses borrowing to supplement cash balance and soften cash flow swings. The resolution would allow the school corporation to do that.
Since the state is taking over all schools' general funds beginning in January, Scott said they do not need to borrow money for that fund. However, the money will need to be borrowed for debt service, transportation and capital projects funds.
Warsaw Community Schools has participated in the Indiana Bond Bank program since 1989.
According to the cost analysis, the interest on these warrants is expected to be near or below market level. Appropriation to cover the interest expense was included in the debt service fund's 2009 budget. Bond sizing will be performed by Crowe Chizek and is expected to be about $3.95 million.
The school board approved the resolution to participate in the bond bank.
In 2007, the IRS changed rules regarding 403(b) plans. Scott said 403(b) is much like industry's 401(k) plans and is a tool for teachers to set aside money for retirement.
To comply with the new rules, Scott said, Warsaw Schools had to revise its 403(b) plan document and make corresponding changes on forms used by the plan participants.
The school board adopted the changes.
As Warsaw Schools moves forward with its building project, easements for utilities may need to be provided. Monday, the school board approved for Indiana-American Water Co. Inc. to have access to run water lines to the new Madison Elementary School that will be built.
Scott said the 20-foot-wide easement will run along the front of the new Madison and will be measured from the center of the road.
Max Reed, attorney for Warsaw Schools, said, "Based on the information I got at this point, Indiana-American Water Co. is not asking us to pay for them to run water lines up to the Madison site."
However, Board Vice President Dan Robinson said he thinks they'll make them pay for work. He expressed his unhappiness with being forced by the state legislature to comply with the German-owned corporation's requirements.
Reed said Madison wouldn't have any water until they did, and the easement granted to the water company is permanent.
"Having no choice, I go ahead and make a motion to approve this," Deb Wiggins, school board member, said. The motion was approved, reluctantly by some of the board members.
Year-end appropriations also were approved to be transferred. By regulation, a school corporation must finish the calendar year with appropriations in program accounts either at zero or with a positive balance. A transfer of appropriations can help meet that requirement.
With negotiations beginning in the fall, the Warsaw Community Education Association and the school board approved the master contract agreement and certified salary recommendations yesterday.
The contract will run through June 30, 2011, according to Interim Superintendent Ralph Bailey. He said the contract increase for salaries will average about 2.38 percent plus the increment available to applicable staff members. The contract is effective retroactive to July 1, 2008.
Approval of administrative contracts, non-licensed 2009 support personnel wages and salary recommendations for administrative and special services personnel services was tabled until the Jan. 19 meeting.
Instead, Wiggins made a motion "that it be understood that the board intends to research, review and approve appropriate wage increases for support staff, administrative employees, special services employees and at-will employees.
"To facilitate this review and approval, the board authorizes the formation of a salary and wage review task force, to consist of at least one administrator, Chris Gensinger, and at least one board member, Deb Wiggins, as its initial members. The task force may seek additional members."
Under Wiggins' motion, the task force is to research and review salary structures, employment contracts, at-will personnel information and authorization forms, the performance review time schedule and merit pay and any other issues pertaining to the process for salary and wage approvals by the board.
The task force, her motion states, is to have prepared for discussion at the board's January executive meeting and for action at its January board meeting, recommendations on the following items regarding support staff, administrative employees, special services employees and at-will employees: a procedure for future salary and wage review and approval by the board; contracts for personnel information and authorization forms; and new or additional incentives that would affect salary or wages.
Her motion was approved by the full school board.
Revisions to the elementary school handbook were approved. With the changes, all of Warsaw's elementary schools will follow the same handbook.
The first reading of the middle school handbook revisions was given. The board will be asked to approve those in January. If approved, Lakeview and Edgewood middle schools will follow the same handbook instead of having their own.
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