UNAPPROVED

Board of Education Finance Committee (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)

Generated by Debbie Tressler on Tuesday, October 22, 2019

1. Board Finance Committee

A. Call to Order

10:01 a.m.

B. Roll Call

Members Present: Zen Kelly, Debbie Cary, Greg Madden
Members Absent: Jason Tauriainen

C. Approval of Notes May 6, 2019 meeting

The notes of the May 6, 2019, meeting were approved as printed.

D. Fund Balances Review

Mr. Jones discussed the need for a better understanding of the district's fund balance by all stakeholders. He explained the regulations regarding the fund balance, as stated in BP 3470 Fund Balance.
Mr. Kelly discussed how the district has been able to buffer funding cuts by using the fund balance.
Mr. Jones explained the attached fund balance report. The committee discussed funding options for the development of the FY21 budget and how to help the public better understand the fund balance. Mr. Kelly suggested a report similar to the one attached but containing FY19, FY20 projected and FY21 projected use.
Mr. Jones explained the self-insurance health care expenses category.

The committee discussed future cuts and where most of the budget is spent. The committee recommends that there be no further cuts to the district office staff.
The committee decided that when they start working on efficiencies, they will work by object code as done last year. The object code reports will include information describing who or what is included in that object so that those not attending the meetings, will still understand the process.
The committee discussed how the borough funding is provided to the district.

E. Methods of Budget Review by Committee

Mr. Kelly explained the process developed by the committee to aid in budget review and development.

Mr. Jones explained the attached two reports. The committee discussed various expenditure categories and the items included in those categories. Mr. Jones will develop a report that states the number of employees represented in each category. Ms. Cary suggested a video that shows which staff the students interact with daily including custodians, nurses, student nutrition staff.

F. FY21 Budget Reduction List Review

The committee agreed that they are not in favor of school consolidations and recommend all consolidations be removed from the reduction list. Mr. O'Brien will ask Mrs. Vadla to include this topic in board discussion on Nov. 4. Mr. Kelly will include this in his committee report during the Nov. 4 meeting.
Mr. O'Brien discussed recent meetings between the borough and district administration regarding the possibility of using the former Soldotna Prep. School building for an elementary campus and for Soldotna Montessori School. The borough would like to use the current Soldotna Elementary and Soldotna Montessori land for a new Central Emergency Services building. District administration is looking at various options for two side-by-side elementary buildings. Mr. O'Brien stated that the district would only consider this if it would benefit the communities and education.
The committee will continue their work on reductions after the governor's budget is released. Currently, PTR is the first on the list. Enrollment is down around 150 students. The class size report will be a work session topic on Nov. 4.
Mr. O'Brien discussed teacher contract approval dates and the possibility of moving the date up from February to January.

G. Information Requests to Administration

None.

H. Adjourn

11:59 a.m.