Public Hearing Set For Whitko Referendum
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
But before Whitko held its regular meeting, they held a special meeting to deal with budget issues.
If the budget holds, Whitko Community Schools will have a zero balance by the end of 2011.[[In-content Ad]]Tom McFarland, Whitko's director of financial operations, gave the budget numbers to the school board Monday night. The budget spans 18 months from July to the end of 2011.
"If we get all the money we're supposed to get, if so we'll end 2011 with a zero cash balance," said McFarland.
The board then approved the publishing of the proposed 2011 budget.
During its June meeting, the Whitko School Board voted to put the steps in motion to put a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot that would issue a 20-cent tax levy per $100 assessed valuation on properties in the school district.
At that June meeting, Whitko Superintendent Steve Clason said the move was intended to make up for a possible $500,000 shortfall in the budget, which could cost more teachers their jobs and result in more cuts.
Monday night, Clason said some recent issues have caused residents to ask questions.
Clason noted that the recent federal jobs bill that would provide money to the states for teachers has caused some to ask whether the tax levy was still needed.
Clason also pointed to recent comments by Governor Mitch Daniels saying that he didn't expect any more reductions in education in 2011.
Clason said he had the same sentiment Southwest Allen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Yager recently voiced to a Fort Wayne television station.
"It just depends on who you want to belief," said Clason, who said that the numbers still point to a reduction. "The need for the referendum is still there."
Clason then announced that there will be a public meeting Oct. 5 at the Whitko High School auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m. to discuss issues regarding the referendum.
The school board also was introduced to some of the new teachers who will be both at Whitko High School, Whitko Middle School, South Whitley Elementary and Pierceton Elementary.
South Whitley's new principal was introduced Monday night.
Bruce Hansen was named interim principal at SWES for the 2010-2011 school year. Hansen took over for Randy Miller, who the board hired July 19 but quit Aug. 1.
Clason said he was pleased with Hansen's demeanor and natural leadership.
The board approved several resolutions during Monday night's meeting pertaining to the budget, including a transfer of funds resolution that would allow the transfer of up to 10 percent of money from another fund to the general fund.
Whitko High School Principal Parrish Kruger said the high school will host Trier Ford Sept. 18 for an event.
The car dealership will have cars on hand, and for every person to take a five-minute test drive, the dealership will donate $20 to the school.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kruger said some of the money will go toward scholarships, which led board member Roger Boggs to ask about how the Play-to-Participate program was going.
Kruger said there have been requests for scholarship assistance by players, and that athletic director Rob Irwin is developing a process to deal with them.
Kruger did say though that a decision would have to be made before a team's competition.
For example, if a football player requested a scholarship he would either have to have one in place or pay his fee by the team's first game of the season Friday.
Clason also went over the corporation's goals from last school year and set a time for the board to meet to go over goals for the upcoming school year.
The board also approved a resolution to support Indiana's return to the central time zone.
Tippecanoe Valley Schools approved a similar resolution at their school board meeting this month.
Whitko schools start classes Thursday.
But before Whitko held its regular meeting, they held a special meeting to deal with budget issues.
If the budget holds, Whitko Community Schools will have a zero balance by the end of 2011.[[In-content Ad]]Tom McFarland, Whitko's director of financial operations, gave the budget numbers to the school board Monday night. The budget spans 18 months from July to the end of 2011.
"If we get all the money we're supposed to get, if so we'll end 2011 with a zero cash balance," said McFarland.
The board then approved the publishing of the proposed 2011 budget.
During its June meeting, the Whitko School Board voted to put the steps in motion to put a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot that would issue a 20-cent tax levy per $100 assessed valuation on properties in the school district.
At that June meeting, Whitko Superintendent Steve Clason said the move was intended to make up for a possible $500,000 shortfall in the budget, which could cost more teachers their jobs and result in more cuts.
Monday night, Clason said some recent issues have caused residents to ask questions.
Clason noted that the recent federal jobs bill that would provide money to the states for teachers has caused some to ask whether the tax levy was still needed.
Clason also pointed to recent comments by Governor Mitch Daniels saying that he didn't expect any more reductions in education in 2011.
Clason said he had the same sentiment Southwest Allen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Yager recently voiced to a Fort Wayne television station.
"It just depends on who you want to belief," said Clason, who said that the numbers still point to a reduction. "The need for the referendum is still there."
Clason then announced that there will be a public meeting Oct. 5 at the Whitko High School auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m. to discuss issues regarding the referendum.
The school board also was introduced to some of the new teachers who will be both at Whitko High School, Whitko Middle School, South Whitley Elementary and Pierceton Elementary.
South Whitley's new principal was introduced Monday night.
Bruce Hansen was named interim principal at SWES for the 2010-2011 school year. Hansen took over for Randy Miller, who the board hired July 19 but quit Aug. 1.
Clason said he was pleased with Hansen's demeanor and natural leadership.
The board approved several resolutions during Monday night's meeting pertaining to the budget, including a transfer of funds resolution that would allow the transfer of up to 10 percent of money from another fund to the general fund.
Whitko High School Principal Parrish Kruger said the high school will host Trier Ford Sept. 18 for an event.
The car dealership will have cars on hand, and for every person to take a five-minute test drive, the dealership will donate $20 to the school.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kruger said some of the money will go toward scholarships, which led board member Roger Boggs to ask about how the Play-to-Participate program was going.
Kruger said there have been requests for scholarship assistance by players, and that athletic director Rob Irwin is developing a process to deal with them.
Kruger did say though that a decision would have to be made before a team's competition.
For example, if a football player requested a scholarship he would either have to have one in place or pay his fee by the team's first game of the season Friday.
Clason also went over the corporation's goals from last school year and set a time for the board to meet to go over goals for the upcoming school year.
The board also approved a resolution to support Indiana's return to the central time zone.
Tippecanoe Valley Schools approved a similar resolution at their school board meeting this month.
Whitko schools start classes Thursday.
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