By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green’s school board president conceded Tuesday evening that the school district may have more success with voters if it split up its building projects.
“It does not appear that this is the time to finance both the elementaries and high school,” Board President Ginny Stewart said.
So Stewart is suggesting that the district focus on the elementary buildings first, and address the high school later.
After the board meeting, Superintendent Francis Scruci acknowledged that splitting the projects into more manageable pieces may be best.
“I think the community spoke loud and clear that doing it all at once is not what they want,” Scruci said.
And so far, the facilities task force has been looking at just the conditions of the current elementaries and the options available to renovate or replace them.
Board Vice President Bill Clifford agreed that the focus on the elementaries may be the best route for the district.
“It sure appears that’s the direction,” he said.
“I’m not saying there’s not an issue with the high school,” Clifford added. “But one step at a time.”
Splitting the projects doesn’t mean a delay in building efforts, Stewart said. She is hopeful a financial option for going forward is identified by early March.
“We have a lot to accomplish and having this information sooner, rather than later, will help,” she said.
Stewart said the board is committed to developing a fiscal strategy to keep the school district on solid footing – while dealing with building needs.
She asked community members to join the board in supporting the future of the schools.
“I challenge those in the community who believe a city is only as good as its schools to step up,” she said.
Stewart said the district’s difficult financial situation – with multiple levies coming up in the next five years – became very clear during a recent work session on taxation options.
“It was somewhat alarming,” she said.
Citizen Richard Chamberlain, who sat through the work session, commended the board for taking a hard look at the district’s levies during a public work session.
Then he suggested that the board take another hard look – this time at school programs that aren’t mandated by the state.
The burden on taxpayers could be lightened if non-mandated school programs are either dropped or funded by sources other than tax levies, he said.
“That could help us get to the point where we are living within our means,” Richard Chamberlain said.
Grant Chamberlain, asked that the school district make detailed financial records available to the school task force. He said access to the district’s $33 million budget is necessary for the task force to make decisions.
“There are a lot of people on both sides of the aisle begging for more information,” Grant Chamberlain said.
Also at the meeting, school district Treasurer Cathy Schuller reported on improvements being made to replace outdated financial software, to replace retiring treasurer staff, and to improve communication with other departments.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s going to be well worth it,” she said of the conversion to updated software.
Schuller also assured those present that the district’s finances are not dire. “The district has managed your monies well and we are not broke,” she said.
Beth Krolak, school technology coordinator, reported on the district’s success in saving money and paper with a new printing management program. She estimated $210,000 in savings over five years.
In other business at the meeting, Scruci noted the repeated requests that the district find grant funding to offset the burden on taxpayers. So he presented a potential grant opportunity for up to $25,000 for STEM programs, with a nomination needed from a local farmer.
Grant Chamberlain offered to nominate the district for the funding.
Later in the meeting, the board recognized several gifts and grants to the district including:
- $755.93 for guided science readers from several donors.
- $150 to Crim Elementary School from First United Methodist Church.
- $150 for a scholarship fund from Daniel and Cynthia Bomeli.
- $5,000 for preschool playground equipment at Conneaut from the BG Community Foundation.
- $2,500 for 1BookBG from the BG Community Foundation.
- $3,150 for unpaid lunch accounts from the annual Snyder Christmas gathering.
Also at the meeting, Scruci noted that January is School Board Appreciation Month.
Stewart and other board members thanked past president Jill Carr for her steady and calm leadership in the last year.
“It has been a difficult year,” Scruci said. “You persevered through a very tough year.”
Several members of the school administration and staff filed by the board of education, shaking hands and thanking them for their service.
Parent Tracy Hovest thanked the board members for their tireless efforts to improve the district.
“I appreciate how hard you work, and how many hours you put into the district,” she said.
