ARCHBOLD WEATHER

State Support To Archbold Schools Down Almost 8%




Based on preliminary information, Chris Ziegler, treasurer of the Archbold Area School District, said support from the State of Ohio was down about 8%.

Speaking to the Archbold school board during its Monday, Aug. 15 meeting, Ziegler said preliminary figures place the subsidy payment to the district at $2,632,359.

She said the figure was computed using the 2011 ADM, or average daily membership. The ADM is the number of students in the schools when the official state count is taken in October.

During fiscal year 2011, which ran from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, state support for the district was about $2.86 million.

For fiscal year 2012, July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, the state subsidy payment is calculated by taking the previous year’s district subsidy payment and subtracting the state fiscal stabilization fund money.

The state fiscal stabilization fund money came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as federal economic stimulus money.

Last year, Archbold received $225,179 in state fiscal stabilization fund money. Subtracting it from the $2.86 million leaves $2.63 million.

“That could be adjusted, but we don’t know,” Ziegler said.

She said school officials were aware state funding was going to be cut, and based all of their financial planning on the lower amount.

Excellent?

Ziegler told board members if the district earns either the Excellent or Excellent with Distinction ratings on the school report cards, the district could be in for more money.

The Ohio Department of Education will give the district an additional $17 per student if the district earns one of the top two rankings. ODE will release the official school district report cards, Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Based on last year’s ADM, Ziegler said that would mean an additional $22,070.

In The Hole

Based on last year’s figures for open enrollment, Ziegler estimated the school district will be about $236,000 in the hole.

State law allows any Ohio primary or secondary school student to attend any other school district in the state, as long as parents provide transportation.

Ziegler said more Archbold students leave the district than come in from outside.

State funding follows a student from place to place. This year, if a student leaves Archbold schools to attend another district, the state will subtract about $5,783 from Archbold’s money and transfer it to the new district.

Each category of student is “weighted.” For example, because the costs of educating a special needs student is higher than others, ODE adds “weight” to a special needs student because it takes more money for the district to educate the student.

During fiscal year 2011, Ziegler said state-weighted calculations showed 48.47 students coming into the district, while 89.437 students left.

Votes

Janet Wyse and Tony Warncke, board members, abstained from a vote approving the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center substitute teacher list for the 2011-12 school year.

Wyse abstained because she is on the list; Warncke abstained because his wife is on the list.

Under the consensus agenda, board members approved meeting minutes and financial reports, the NWOESC paraprofessional sub list, and participation in the State of Ohio cooperative purchasing program.

Also approved were several policy changes.

The next meeting of the Archbold Area School Board is Monday, Sept. 19, 7 pm.



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