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| Serving Callaway County communities since 1875. | www.fultonsun.com | Saturday, July 04, 2009 |
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Same levy, new school year By ROGER MEISSEN The Fulton Sun
That energy seemed a perfect framework for the new ideas floating around the Board's table. From sports fields to bus service, the only thing not new was the level that the Board set its tax levy. It set this year's tax at exactly the same rate - 4.0799 percent - as the previous year, despite having to pay for construction that will begin in the next year. “It's virtually the same as it was last year,” Board President Leroy Wade said. “There's just a very slight variation on how much of the levy services the general revenue and how much is in debt service, but the overall levy is otherwise the same.” But that's where the sameness stopped. The Board heard about new changes that will be implemented in its bus service that it contracts through Durham School Services. It is amid a companywide plan to install computers and GPS on each bus to help simplify communication and track what each is doing. “We're going to know where every bus is every moment of every day,” said Mike Barnes, general manager for Durham's mid-central region. “It's pretty innovative for this industry. Barnes said it will help drivers both keep track of students and stops, and also troubleshoot weather and safety issues. However, it would mean parents couldn't call the school to check on their children, but instead would need to call a service center set up to troubleshoot all of Durham's bus routes. “This will let us know if there's any kind of issue and respond to it,” Barnes said. “It will take the burden off of the driver - they'll know what kids are getting off, what kids are getting on regardless of whether it's their route - and take some of the burden off of the calls that you all may get at the school.” When Barnes asked for questions, Board member Suzie Mattern's mind focused on cost. “I'm sure at this stage of a project, you know exactly the price,” Mattern said. “What's that going to do to our district's cost in the future?” Barnes reassured the board that this extra would not increase New Bloomfield's cost more than it would without. “You're in a situation where you're at the end of a contract,” Barnes said. “Your cost will be zero for this, but prices will go up a standard three percent.” The thought is we're going to pick up a lot of business from districts that need this technology, grow and by growing will offset this cost.” As the Board moved on, Principal Stacy Fick presented a report that showed no growth in the elementary school this year. “We've currently enrolled about 35 new students in classes, but also had about 37 students transfer to other schools this year,” Fick said. “We did come almost even with students, but the bad news is we are still at 44 students in kindergarten and have three openings in preschool classes. “Generally we have about 60 and that shows our numbers are down just a little bit now.” Fick presented the idea of an open library night - from 630-8 p.m. on Tuesdays - for students and their parents. While the idea isn't fully developed, she believes it would offer a valuable opportunity for both. |
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