Good News: $255K Surplus at RUHS

By Sara Nelson

An unexpectedly large budget surplus and a preliminary contract with Black River Architects were among the items reported on at the Randolph Union High School board meeting August 8.

Supt. Brent Kay said the school posted a $255,946 surplus for the 2006-07 fiscal year, rather than the $100,000 that had been projected. Kay said the extra money was a "nice surprise," and that it was a result of lower-than-expected special education and legal costs.

Kay said the board will likely ask that the surplus be moved into the building maintenance fund, to allow the school to borrow less for the upcoming building renovation.

The board also approved a $7000 contract with Black River Design for the planning phase of the proposed renovation. This would include assisting board members with plans for presentations to the public prior to a $10-million bond vote in November.

Black River Design is slated to continue the project on a commission basis if the bond passes.

Kay also reported on enrollment numbers for the district, which he said are "starting to rebound," after declining for several years. Kay said this fall’s gains in the kindergarten and elementary grades will take a few years to affect enrollment at the high school level, which he expects to decline for a few more years.

However, Brookfield, which graduated 25 students last year and has only 15 incoming kindergartners, will be facing a big drop in its state (per-pupil) aid this year, Kay said. He noted that school officials have been paring back expenses for several years, in preparation for this anticipated dip in Brookfield’s enrollments, Kay said.

Lunch Sharing

At its August meeting, the RUHS board also approved a plan to truck semi-prepared food to Brookfield from RUHS, rather than operate Brookfield’s kitchen, which "has been running a deficit every year," Kay said. Kay said the food service provider estimated that shipping the food would save 15-20%.

The board approved contracts for a new paraprofessional, Jeff Green, a new science teacher, Kathy Hockman, and a new maintenance worker, Ken Reidell, all of whom replace outgoing staff.

Kay distributed drafts of an updated strategic plan, to be discussed and finalized over the next few months.

The RUHS board also heard from new Assistant Principal Dave Barnett. Barnett reported on a "transition planning group," seven teachers and counselors who attended a summer institute to develop a plan to make the transition from middle school to high school easier on students.

The next board meeting will be September 12, 6 p.m., and will include a presentation on policy governance by Randolph Elementary School board member Laura Soares.

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