Ada Schools could face large deficit

ADA — Ada Schools, without changes in income or expenses, could be facing an almost $2 million deficit in fiscal year 2016.
That’s the projection of Treasurer Christy Beaschler, who presented her five-year forecast at Thursday night’s school board meeting.
“We’ve got to look at why we’re spending more money than we’re bringing in,” Beaschler said.
She said passage of the levy in November helped the school to not have to make any immediate and significant changes. Board President Mike Elliott said while it helped for the time being, it’s not a long-term solution.
Even including the passage of last year’s levy, another operating levy is something the board is going to have to look at in the not-so-distant future, the treasurer said.
“An operating levy is definitely something we’re going to have to talk about,” she said. “The November ballot is right around the corner, so that’s something that we’re going to have to look at.
“The levy helped us to where we’re not having to make any cuts right away, but we know by our forecast we’re going to have to do something, whether it’s November or next May,” Beaschler said. “We’ve got to reduce expenses or increase revenue, or both.”
Cash balances for the next three fiscal years, according to Beaschler’s projections, still show the disctrict in the black. But without knowing exactly what will be received from the state, it’s difficult for the treasurer to accurately predict the last three of the five years since 52 percent of the general budget comes from the state.
“Years three, four and five are hard because the state does not give us any formulas or anything to go with on what state money coming in,” she said.
Because the last three years can’t be predicted with 100 percent accuracy, it’s Beaschler’s job, she said, to focus the board on the next two years.
“I know it’s called a five-year forecast, but we really look at the two, maybe three years,” she said. “You’ve got to put numbers in there, and probably almost every school district out there is going to show some type of red in 2016.
“This time last year for this year, I was showing over $500,000 also overspending, and we’re at $235,000, so things change and that’s why it’s called a forecast.”
Beaschler added that when she’s putting it all together, it sometimes seems to be a worst-case scenario, but she’s still trying to be realistic.
“The concern for me is the next two years where we’re spending more money than we’re bringing in; that’s something the board really needs to take a hard look at,” she said.
In other board action:
– Approved a resolution making Auglaize County the district’s primary educational service center.
– Adopted a resolution for a calamity day alternative make-up plan.
– Approved a resolution for 2012-2013 membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
– Approved the list of students for graduation on May 27.
– Approved rescending the supplemental position of drama coach for the 2012-2013 school year.
– Accepted the resignation of Sara Bucher as co-yearbook advisor for the 2012-2013 school year.
– Approved the following supplemental contracts for the 2012-2013 school year: D. Lyn Davis, entry year mentor; Teri Salyer, co-fourth grade level chair; Kim Guagenti, sixth grade level chair and Ken Jochims, faculty representative.
– Approved the band trip to Indianapolis, Ind., on Nov. 12, 2012.
– Approved the out-of-state trip for the eighth grade to Washington, D.C. on April 10 through April 14, 2013.
– Approved a contract with Allen County ESC for psychological services for the 2012-2013 school year.
– Approved an agreement with Upper Scioto Valley Local School District to transport a student to the SWSD classroom in Kenton for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year.
– Approved Kyle Bohym as a home instructor for a student with a disability for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year.
– Approved Dr. Kalyan Das and Dr. Lawrence Kuk as medical physicians for the purpose of certifying bus driver physical forms for the 2012-2013 school year.
– Approved a contract with West Central Ohio Assistive Technology Center.
– Accepted the resignation of Lindsey Brinkman at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

By TY THAXTON
Times staff writer

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Posted by Kenton Times on May 18, 2012. Filed under Local News,Recent Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry