The Falcon School District 49 Board of Education met at their special meeting Oct. 27. Budget and revenue woes were at the forefront of discussions. Preparing for budget reductionsForty percent of the previous $86.4 million budget has been reduced, along with about 18 positions in administration. The current budget is $72.41 million. ìWe are going to be at a net loss position starting the new year,î said Brett Ridgway, chief business officer. ìThe district has grown 10 percent within 10 years, the largest student population district growth in the state. We are sitting at No. 18 in 20 of Coloradoís largest school districts ñ at 14,429.90 students.îEducation officials are faced with conducting operations with decreased funds. About 15 of the 20 top districts receive funding outside of state funding. D 49 also received stimulus money. ìThere were some huge strings attached to that money. It is never as easy as cashing the check,î Ridgway said.At the same time, educators are preparing students and teachers for the implementation of Colorado Senate Bill 191. The bill is comprehensive educator effectiveness legislation that addresses issues like teacher tenure and evaluation systems for teachers and principals. ìWe restructured how we give the education process,î Ridgway said. ìInnovation is about a different way to provide an educational model. We are using about 56 modular buildings. They are not efficient, and the longer you use them you lose resources. We have difficult decisions to make. We have a lot of children out there that have not hit our system yet.îMoving the restructure forward, Ridgway suggested a cut of $10.95 million from the budget.ìWe are at capacity even though we have vacant homes in our community,î said Andy Holloman, board treasurer.Lead in transportationD 49 is providing a framework for other districts to create a fee-for-service bus system.Cindy Hardin, district director of transportation, presented the Student Transportation Services Business Plan 2011-2012.Hardin said transportation expenses stand at $313,631; revenue is $60,035; and a monthly state subsidy is $92,400, which creates about a $160,000 loss. Potential collectible revenue is $59,160.The district sold more than 1,000 passes at the beginning of the year, and generated $1,100 from processing lost cards. D 49 has 2,389 paying customers and 2,791 riders, which is short of the districtís new goal of 4,800 riders. ìBecause we are seeing a majority of one-way riders, we need to sell more to become self-sustaining,î Hardin said. ìWe will have no circuit buses next year to limit children standing. We are 15 positions down, but we are still completing every trip possible in overtime, paying time and a half.îD 49 officials decreased bus runs from 154 to 69 and increased bus seat utilization from 55 percent to 68 percent. Ridgway indicated several factors are in process to initiate changes in transportation.ìWe are looking at selling empty seats on special needs buses. We are hoping to pick up some more business partners in our community,î Ridgway said. ìI think this will move from public to private sector. We might also want to consider lump sum payments.î Leasing new spaceAfter three months of consideration, the administration proposed leasing a new facility to the tune of $2 million for Falcon Virtual Academy. The 20,000-square-foot facility is in the former Peak Manufacturing building, and has potential for added space. Owned by the Small Business Administration, the building is under foreclosure and financing is through the Federal Housing Administration. The cost is about $100 per square feet, with a 15-year term and a one year renewable lease.D 49 pays $11,500 a month for the present facility. Capital reserve funds support the new facility, without impact to the general funds.The academyís enrollment increased from 102 to 339, with a forecast of 400 students, during 2011-2012. The revenue generated from the academyís enrollment brought $800,000 to D 49. The new building is funded with the revenue generated from 23 students already enrolled.ìWe had 35 additional kids at the K-8 level that we have had to say no to (admission),î said Dave Knoche, principal. ìWe want to move into adult education. We need to move into Career Technology Education type areas.î (Matching state funds are available for those types of programs.)The new building also provides the opportunity to extend school days to evenings. The other building alternative for the academy is the Pikes Peak Community College campus. If approved, the academy could move as early as the December break.The board approved the following:
- Accreditation of schools
- School based health clinic with Peak Vista Community Health
- American Education Week Resolution
- District Account Administrative Committee membership; D 49 Secretary Tammy Harold is a liaison
- Official survey date for impact aid ñ Nov. 11
- Declaration to exit fiscal exigency
