Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BOURBON -ÊThe effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Triton School Corp. were discussed at the first of its bi-monthly school meeting Tuesday.
Due to rising fuel costs after last week's hurricane, Triton put a temporary freeze on all field trips.
Triton also has taken measures to cut down on transportation for sporting events. The high school football team now is taking one bus instead of two with a van being used to transport equipment. Friday, and for the rest of the season, the cheerleaders will take a 66-passenger bus for away games. Fans also can pay $1 to ride on the bus.
Triton Superintendent Ted Chittum said if buses can decrease their idle time by 15 minutes a day, the school will conserve 330 gallons of fuel a year.
Chittum also discussed the possibility of a family in the school district taking in a family of evacuees from the Gulf Coast region. Whether or not the family has children will not be known until the family arrives later this week. Should they have children, the state has instructed all schools to immediately enroll evacuees into school even if the student lacks transcripts, grades or immunization records.
The board discussed the 2005-2006 budget. The general fund saw a 2 percent increase from last year while debt service is up 1.1 percent due to a textbook rental program. Capital projects is up 8.5 percent, or $94,000 over 2004.
The transportation fund, which encompasses all costs to keep buses on the road, is up 6.5 percent. The severance/retirement fund is up while bus replacement remained the same as last year.
The board plans to reduce the capital projects and bus replacement funds to balance the budget. When the idea of dipping into the general fund to balance the budget was brought up, Chittum said it was best not to deal with the general fund due to the fact it's the fund the corporation has the least amount of influence over.
The general fund is determined by a per-student rate mandated by the state combined with property taxes collected in the school district.
The enrollment at Triton is down four students from last year as the Sep. 16 count day for all schools approaches. That day, all corporations must report the number of students enrolled in its schools with that number determining state funding.
The state is expected to set the per-student rate in January.
The corporation will hold a budget hearing in Plymouth at the Marshal County building in October.
In other business, the school board:
• Accepted a request from art teacher Diana Westfall for an art club trip to New York City May 30 to June 4.
• Approved vouchers 1193-1267 and payroll 22 for $459,646.24 discussed in the Aug. 22 meeting.
The board normally meets the second and fourth Monday of every month. Due to the holiday weekend and ongoing budget meetings, the board met Tuesday and will meet again Sept. 19.
Members of the Triton school board are president Steve Blackford, Kris Glingle, Larry Lemler, Dick Trowbridge and Debbie Shively.
