5/17/2012 - South Side Leader
     

LAKEMORE — Springfield Local School District’s finances are continuing to improve, according to district Treasurer Chris Adams.

Adams presented the five-year forecast for 2012-16 at the May 15 Board of Education meeting, detailing information about the district’s finances.

“Our overall financial health has improved since coming out of fiscal emergency, but we have to continue to be vigilant,” said Adams.

The district came out of fiscal emergency in November 2011. It was placed in fiscal caution in October 2006, in fiscal watch February 2007 and then in fiscal emergency May 2007 after deficits of $1.9 million for 2007 and $4.7 million for 2008 were forecast, according to district officials.

Adams added that the recent forecast shows the district’s cash reserves will be healthy for the next three years, but in year four, expenditures will exceed revenues. One area of concern is real estate collections, according to Adams.

Adams explained the district’s valuation has fallen from a high of $395 million to $350 million and suggested that area of revenue has to be “watched.”

The board approved Adams’ five-year forecast without comment.

In other financial news, Superintendent Bill Stauffer said Schrop Intermediate has won two GAR Foundation grants, including $8,400 to establish a school newspaper in an afterschool program and $3,918 for a journal writing and reading program.

Also at the meeting, the board heard teacher Paula Murphy present an update on the district’s wellness goals. Murphy stated all school buildings are working on reducing the availability of unhealthy foods for students and increasing opportunities for exercise and physical fitness, as well as increasing education on health.

A presentation on activities related to literacy instruction also was presented to the board. It included practices, activities, learning measurements, interventions and results, all designed to improve students’ reading and writing skills.

In other business, the board approved the retirement resignation of teachers Robert Hass, Catherine Jenerette, Janice Mauldin, Linda Whited and Pamela Love, all effective this school year.

The board also approved hiring two guidance counselors, including a full-time person for the high school and a part-time person for the elementary schools. Stauffer stated the positions had been eliminated in the past few years during the cuts aimed at bringing the district out of fiscal emergency.

In addition, the board approved an agreement with Healthcare Process Consulting Inc. to assist the district in managing its Ohio Medicaid School program.

The next regular meeting is set for June 19 at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building, 2960 Sanitarium Road.

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