The Budget Advisory Committee held their first meeting as the Churchill County School District begins the budgeting process for the 2022-23 school year. Superintendent Summer Stephens reported at the school board last week, remotely from a conference in Austin, Texas, giving an update on the Fiscal Year 2023 Base Budget. She said the next step is to reach out to stakeholders and the community to allow them to weigh in on their priorities for the district budget.
Trustee Carmen Schank attended the budget committee meeting. She reports the group reviewed the policies involving the budget as well as district goals, which include implementing learning opportunities to develop life-ready learners, developing the whole learner that leads to engaged citizens, and formalizing communication that includes teachers, students, families, and the community.
There is a document available on the district website regarding a plan for how the district intends to spend nearly $3.12 million of COVID relief monies in ESSER III funding. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money provides extra funding to schools due to the COVID situation. Included in that plan are $1.6 million for essential workers, additional staff to reduce elementary class size, and additional staff at the middle and high school.
Kristi Fielding, the district comptroller, said the new funding created over 40 new staff positions, and she is planning on an increase of 15% for health insurance renewals. She is also budgeting for a 10% increase in the POOL/PACT costs. The district is projecting there will be 3,241 students next year, with a per-pupil rate of $8,197 coming in the next budget year.
A tentative budget will be presented at the April 4 board meeting, while the committee will continue to take public input.
Fielding also reported on the Residential Construction Tax funding renewal for the next four years. Every four years the district is required to present a report on the spending over the past five years for Capital Expenditures to assist with maintenance of the aging school buildings and present a plan for the upcoming five years. The report is sent to the Churchill County Commissioners for their approval and then on to the Nevada Tax Commission.
The tax is imposed on new construction only, current homeowners are not impacted, and Fielding said the tax is $900 per new building. Since the tax was renewed in 2018, the district has received $48,285 in 2018, $77,706 in 2019, $85,797 in 2020, and $95,643 in 2021. The year-to-date total so far in 2022 is $52,155. Future revenue depends on the number of residential construction permits issued by Churchill County and the City of Fallon. Trustees approved the request to renew the RCT.
Stephens also reported on the hiring process at the Middle School, saying there are a total of seven applicants in the screening process. Interviews will be held on March 18 by a committee of teachers, parents, students, and community members. She hopes to have that hiring completed by March 23.
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