South Putnam board sees financial snapshot

Friday, April 16, 2021

As Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt prepares to retire, the South Putnam School Board is also wanting to learn more about the school corporation’s finances now and into the future.

The board heard input from Paul Pfledderer of Administrator Assistance on figuring the school corporation’s expenses and finances during its regular meeting Wednesday evening.

Pfledderer meant for his snapshot to be an introduction as the board continues to make the transition to a new superintendent. He focused on the importance of cash flows in terms of seeing revenues and expenses rise and fall.

The snapshot Pfledderer presented to the board was generally based on 2019. He said this was because 2020 was a “unique” year as COVID-19 affected revenues and expenditures.

He referenced the annual student count in September in terms of determining average daily membership (ADM) as being important, as “money follows kids.” If enrollment generally stays the same, revenue does not change, while going up or down corresponds with revenue.

“I don’t want to overstate revenue,” Pfledderer said. “Whenever you do this, if you think you’re gonna get $7 million, you don’t project $7 million. You might project $6.8 or $6.9 million. You’re going to low-ball the revenue a little bit.”

In terms of expenses, Pfledderer said there were three main areas: Payroll, benefits and everything else. This is also just the Education Fund. However, school boards are allowed to transfer money from Education to the Operations Fund.

Pfledderer noted that Operations is tax-funded, even though the state allows tax levies to be raised every year.

While millions of dollars might not be raised, he said, it was still important for South Putnam to maintain a manageable cash balance. As it and the new superintendent become more familiar with spending, the board will better recognize spending patterns.

“This is the first time out of the hat here,” Pfledderer said. “It will change a little bit. None of this is exact. But by the time you’ve done this for a year, year-and-a-half, you will get very good at it.”

In other business:

• The board approved the schedule for the review and adoption of South Putnam’s budget for 2022.

At the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 11, the board will review and approve the publication of a proposed budget. At its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 8, the board will hold a public hearing for the proposed budget. The board will be set to adopt the budget at a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

• The board approved a request by Tammy Severe to purchase 31 new Clevertouch boards with units not to exceed $2,500 apiece.

• The board heard a presentation from Food Service Director Lori Boyce, FFA adviser Lauren Flanders and FFA members Keaton Chew and Austin Branham about a project for growing produce on school grounds. They said that whatever would be grown would be used by cafeteria staff or donated to local food pantries.

Boyce said the project still needs soil, liner and hand tools like trowels and rakes. She also said she would be the main contract for information and cash donations.

The board also recognized South Putnam’s Students of the Month:

• Central Elementary School: Hadley Roderick

• Fillmore Elementary School: Graham Clark

• South Putnam Middle School: Johnny Mitchell

• South Putnam High School: Jordan Troutman

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations:

— Classified: Robin White - MS/HS custodian;

• Maternity leave:

— Certified: Josie Hacker - Central Elementary (Aug. 10 - Oct. 15);

• New hires:

— Classified: Carol Harlan - MS/HS custodian; and David Husk - bus driver;

— Summer workers: Terri Canfield, Angela Garl and David Husk - mowing; and Nancy Knapp and Casey Rossok - bus cleaning;

— ECA: David Wood - JV baseball coach.

With Bernhardt and Administrative Assistant Terri Beasley, the entire board was present for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the South Putnam School Board is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. in the South Putnam MS/HS Learning Center.

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