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Point summer school is in

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The Stevens Point Board of Education will continue its summer school program but doesn't want to propose another referendum to voters soon.

Instead, it will take up the reduction of about $755,000 from the 2000-2001 budget at its regular meeting Monday, June 5. Summer school was one of the proposed reductions, with the others coming from seventh- and eighth-grade athletics, dropping pep and marching bands, not replacing retired teachers and going back to half-day kindergarten.

At the end of a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with an overflow crowd at Bliss Center Tuesday night, May 30, the board voted 5-3, with Scott Schultz abstaining, to retain summer school this year. Voting in favor were LeRoy Heiser, Mary Thurmaier, Diana McGinley, Mike O'Meara and Kate Wichman. Voting against were Ray Haas, Barb Ruesch and Deb Wilz.

Cutting the summer school program would have had little or no impact on reducing the budget because it earns the district a profit in aids or breaks even. Summer offerings allow some students the opportunity to complete graduation requirements or take driver's education classes, in addition to classes in other areas.

The summer-school vote came after board members rejected a motion by Haas, and seconded by Schultz to hold a referendum at either the November, or the next regularly scheduled, election asking to exceed the property tax levy limits for two years. Haas' motion didn't indicate a specific figure, but he offered $1 million in a handout proposal.

Only Haas and Schultz voted in favor of that motion, with several board members saying they had received telephone calls, many that weren't nice, indicating they didn't trust the board.

Haas, who openly spoke out against the May referendum, said he felt the public would support exceeding the levy limits by $1 million for each of the next two years to allow the board to identify specific cuts within the budget, while also providing funds for maintenance and to purchase new textbooks and technology.

He suggested the district use its general fund balance until voters decide whether they want to exceed the property tax levy by $1 million. The fund balance is a contingency fund the district and other governmental bodies have to provide funds until the district receives its share of the property tax levy and different aids.

Bill Palmer, assistant superintendent for business, said the proposal is possible, although auditors would like to have the fund balance at about 15 percent, and the district is at about 13 or 14 percent now.

The fund earns interest, he said, but periodically becomes depleted so the district has to borrow money. The board earned about $240,000 in interest in the last year while paying about $280,000 in interest for short-term borrowing.

Superintendent of Schools Emery Babcock said he supported Haas' proposal. If the referendum fails, the district could then make its cuts without damaging the fund balance further, he said, adding that the board could identify those cuts before the referendum so voters would know specifically what the reductions would be.

"I think we could give it one last shot," he said.

Babcock addressed a number of issues posed to the district since the May referendum, indicating the impact a reduction could have on the district.

Those issues included out-of-state travel (maybe $40,000 districtwide), bus driver evaluations, the school-to-work program, maintenance projects, the Russian sister city project (maybe $4,000), central supplies, federal programs, superintendent dues and fees ($400-$500), overtime, closing schools at 5 p.m. and on weekends, eliminating busing, eliminating interscholastic sports ($700,000-$800,000), the police liaison program($70,000-$72,000), the ropes course (maybe $17,000) and delaying position shifts.

Babcock said he was also asked about the food service program, but that has no impact on the levy because it is a self-funded budget.



	Point summer school is in By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Board of Education will continue its summer school program but doesn't want to propose another referendum to voters soon. Instead, it will take up the reduction of about $755,000 from the 2000-2001 budget at its regular meeting Monday, June 5. Summer school was one of the proposed reductions, with the others coming from seventh- and eighth-grade athletics, dropping pep and marching bands, not replacing retired teachers and going back to half-day kindergarten. At the end of a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with an overflow crowd at Bliss Center Tuesday night, May 30, the board voted 5-3, with Scott Schultz abstaining, to retain summer school this year. Voting in favor were LeRoy Heiser, Mary Thurmaier, Diana McGinley, Mike O'Meara and Kate Wichman. Voting against were Ray Haas, Barb Ruesch and Deb Wilz. Cutting the summer school program would have had little or no impact on reducing the budget because it earns the district a profit in aids or breaks even. Summer offerings allow some students the opportunity to complete graduation requirements or take driver's education classes, in addition to classes in other areas. The summer-school vote came after board members rejected a motion by Haas, and seconded by Schultz to hold a referendum at either the November, or the next regularly scheduled, election asking to exceed the property tax levy limits for two years. Haas' motion didn't indicate a specific figure, but he offered $1 million in a handout proposal. Only Haas and Schultz voted in favor of that motion, with several board members saying they had received telephone calls, many that weren't nice, indicating they didn't trust the board. Haas, who openly spoke out against the May referendum, said he felt the public would support exceeding the levy limits by $1 million for each of the next two years to allow the board to identify specific cuts within the budget, while also providing funds for maintenance and to purchase new textbooks and technology. He suggested the district use its general fund balance until voters decide whether they want to exceed the property tax levy by $1 million. The fund balance is a contingency fund the district and other governmental bodies have to provide funds until the district receives its share of the property tax levy and different aids. Bill Palmer, assistant superintendent for business, said the proposal is possible, although auditors would like to have the fund balance at about 15 percent, and the district is at about 13 or 14 percent now. The fund earns interest, he said, but periodically becomes depleted so the district has to borrow money. The board earned about $240,000 in interest in the last year while paying about $280,000 in interest for short-term borrowing. Superintendent of Schools Emery Babcock said he supported Haas' proposal. If the referendum fails, the district could then make its cuts without damaging the fund balance further, he said, adding that the board could identify those cuts before the referendum so voters would know specifically what the reductions would be. "I think we could give it one last shot," he said. Babcock addressed a number of issues posed to the district since the May referendum, indicating the impact a reduction could have on the district. Those issues included out-of-state travel (maybe $40,000 districtwide), bus driver evaluations, the school-to-work program, maintenance projects, the Russian sister city project (maybe $4,000), central supplies, federal programs, superintendent dues and fees ($400-$500), overtime, closing schools at 5 p.m. and on weekends, eliminating busing, eliminating interscholastic sports ($700,000-$800,000), the police liaison program($70,000-$72,000), the ropes course (maybe $17,000) and delaying position shifts. Babcock said he was also asked about the food service program, but that has no impact on the levy because it is a self-funded budget.