During the financial update portion of Thursday's meeting of the Conway School District's Board of Education, Dr. Greg Murry was happy to report nothing but good news.
"As a district financially we have reached the bottom and we are coming up for sure," Murry said. "We are well on our way to financial solvency. And board, we have never been, nor do I anticipate us being in, financial distress anytime soon or in the near future."
Over the last few months, the district recommended several budget cuts, one of which included notifying 44 employees they would not have a job for the next school year.
"Out of those 44 we had to notify, 22 have either found someplace else to work, decided not to work or have been called back for hire because of a retirement or resignation," Murry said.
Murry also said the board will delay acting on the nonrenewal of those employees' contracts until the June meeting because of the possibility they may be called back for a job.
Another piece of financial good news Murry delivered to the board was the removal of the recommendation of a salary freeze for all employees.
Because of two streams of money Murry said he quite frankly did not anticipate, the board now has the funds that would have been saved from the freeze.
The first stream of money comes from the student growth fund. Murry said the board budgeted a total of $1 million for the 2008-09 school year; however, the actual amount received will be about $1.39 million.
According to Murry, the second stream of funds will come from the state and is based on the idea that a district will collect 98 percent of what is due in mills. Murry said it is basically the state making up the difference between what was actually collected and what was budgeted to be collected and that amounts to about $393,000.
"That is a total of $783,000 and because those dollars were not budgeted, we did not set them aside this year," Murry said. "And because of those two streams of money, it seems appropriate that we can help our employees out by not freezing their salaries."
Murry said he was pleased to be able to prevent freezing salaries as the cost of fuel is affecting people across the nation, not only at the gas station, but in the cost of living, as well. He also said the insurance premiums are going to rise significantly for the district's employees this year, anywhere from $38 to $97 a month.
Because Murry said he feels the district is back on stable ground financially, he said he is absolutely confident that when the board previews the budget for the next school year, it will be a balanced one.
In other news, the board also heard the following agenda items at its regular meeting:
Recognized the Duke TIP Talent Search seventh-grade students.
Heard construction updates on the Conway High School East renovations and the elementary school being built on Padgett Road.
Approved changes to certified and curriculum and instruction policies.
Heard changes to community relations, student and personnel policies.
Approved the resolution to appoint Dr. Greg Murry as district treasurer.
Heard the district's financial report.
Approved a $75,000 purchase order to Virco for new furniture for the new elementary school on Padgett Road.
Approved the list of bills paid in April.
Approved the petition of transfer for one child to the Greenbrier School District for the Kimberly Hieronymous family, one child to the Morrilton School District for the Sally English family, one child to the Greenbrier School District for the Jackie Gauntt family, and one child to the Mayflower School District for the Linda Adams family.
After an executive session, the board approved the following resignations of district employees:
Gerald Plafcan, director of finance.
Linda Boswell, teacher and federal programs administrator.
Claudia Courtway, parent involvement/communication coordinator.
Valerie Cox, secretary at Simon Intermediate School.
Andy Bradley, paraprofessional for the Career Center.
Woodrow Ealy, custodian at Jim Stone Elementary School.
Bettye Shapter, secretary and bookkeeper for Conway High School West.
During executive session, the board also approved the hiring of Pat Pelton as the cafeteria manager for the new elementary school on Padgett Road.
Board member Carolyn Lewis was absent from this meeting.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
