Winslow School Officials Prepare For An Uncertain State Budget

By Linda Kor
   The Winslow School District opted to pay off the $670,000 football field that was put in at the stadium last year. The plan had been to finance the debt over a five-year period, but due to the uncertainty of the 2010 state budget, district officials changed their plans.
   “We have the cash in our accounts, so we deemed it financially responsible to pay off this debt with the funds we have,” Superintendent Robert Mansell advised district governing board members May 19.
   The decision was prompted by concerns over the state budget and the impact it will have on district funding.
   House and Senate Democrats announced their budget solutions May 28, which include a proposal to reduce state sales tax while increasing property tax to directly fund education.
   Republican legislators have rejected the proposal with the perspective that increased taxation will push the state from a recession into a depression.
   “We’re still all in the dark about what the budget will do and it may not be decided until the end of July, which would be just devastating for school districts,” commented Mansell. “The state has developed a formula to sweep cash balances in soft capital accounts, unrestricted capital accounts, and maintenance and operations accounts. We just don’t know what to plan for.”
   In other business, the board:
   * Approved expense and payroll vouchers totaling $691,207.
   * Approved the resignations of Rachel Conatser, digital video teacher, Winslow High School; Francisco Javier Linarte, Spanish teacher, WHS; and A.J. Percuoco, criminal justice teacher, WHS.
   * Approved the hiring of Michael Shumway, teacher, WHS; and Doug Walton and Edward J. Gonzales, temporary summer custodians for the district. The board also approved the rehiring of current employees for the next school year.
   * Approved out of state travel for the following events: girls’ basketball tournament, San Diego, Calif., July 13-20, for six employees and 14 students at no cost to the district; summer softball tournament, Park City, Utah, July 20-26, for two employees, one other adult and 13 students at no cost to the district; boys’ varsity basketball camp, Durango, Colo., June 5-7, for one employee, one other adult and 14 students at no cost to the district; and boys’ varsity basketball camp, La Jolla, Calif., June 24-30, for one employee, one other adult and 14 students at no cost to the district.
   * Approved donations of $7.95 from the EScrip 10 Percent Back to Schools Program to Bonnie Brennan Elementary School; and $500 from Allan Affeldt to the WHS Chorus.
   * Approved the Proposition 301 plan for the 2009-10 school year.
   * Approved changes in the wording of contracts for certain administration and teaching positions to include a reduction in salary if the state doesn’t fund the district at the expected level or if stimulus money is not received; teachers whose certificate expires during the term of their contract will be paid substitute teacher wages if they hold a valid substitute certificate; and additional revenue received by the state may be used by the board to increase salaries.
   * Approved the 2009-10 salary schedules.
   * Approved the scope and sequence criteria for the gifted program.
   * Approved the de scri ption for a new position of academic coach, who will act as a coach and mentor to other teachers.
   * Ratified the 2009-10 retiree contracts.
   * Approved a resolution authorizing district agents to sign statements of assurance for the district for 2010.
   * Approved the establishment of checking and savings accounts, and the authorization of signers for the Student Activity, Auxiliary Operations and Employee Insurance monies.
   * Approved the establishment of checking accounts and the authorization of signers for the Revolving Fund, Miscellaneous Receipts/Withholding Clearing Account and the Lunch Fund Clearing Account.
   * Approved a request to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors for authorization of investment of district monies for the 2009-10 school fiscal year.
   * Approved the usage and credit limits of the Wells Fargo credit card.
   * Approved sole source vendors for the 2009-10 school year.
   * Approved Master Mechanical as a sole source provider for technical support and repair of heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the remainder of the 2008-09 year.