The District has improved several aspects of the financial risk areas. Although, we know that we have not improved enough to get out of being high risk in those areas, we are making progress. There was a limited possibility that the school was going to be able to get out of all the high risk areas during the year.
However, the COVID relief monies have made quite an impact in the school both budgetary wise and infrastructure wise. The District used their COVID relief monies in a variety of ways. The District spent $290,364.10 in COVID relief monies in the FY 21 year. Although a great deal of the monies went to salaries, the district also purchased technology to improve 1:1 computer ratios, plexiglass, masks, cleaning supplies to aide in keeping the school clean for students, repairs to HVAC systems, an outside cleaning company to keep the school clean, and an aide to help with health scanning students who are riding the bus.
In the FY 22 school year, the district has increased their student count over the FY 21 student counts.
For the first time in several years, the district has paid off their registered warrants for a short period of time most recently. For several years, the district had a credit line however, JP Morgan decided to no longer allow the district to have a credit line. Now the district has a registered warrant status. In February 2021, that amount was 164,031.48. On November 3, 2021, the district did not have a credit line or registered warrants. We are striving to not have a registered warrant status at the end of FY 22 by ensuring that the district calls down grant monies monthly and that we do not spend more money than our revenues allow. The COVID relief monies have had a substantial impact upon this registered warrant status as well as the district applying for A.R.S. 15-980 monies for delinquent taxes. Additionally, the district did not have an over expenditure on our FY 21 budget!
District continues to have a catering agreement with Valley Union High School for food services. At this time, it appears that this is a break even item for the district. This is ensuring that the food service account does not continue to get worse. The district moved any additional expenditures it had that were attributed to the food service account to the M&O, as allowable. As budget permits, we may continue to try to move money into that account to reduce negative cash balances.
District entered into a Superintendent sharing agreement with Pearce Elementary School District and this is also a break-even item for the district. The district pays $50,000 to Pearce Elementary but receives $50,000 from Valley Union High School for a IGA that includes sharing of business department, transportation supervisor, facilities, etc. The following changes were also possible due to this agreement.
- District no longer contracts with a business manager consultant which resulted in a $6550 decrease in expenditures.
- District moved previous superintendent back to special education director position and moved into a superintendent sharing agreement, saving the district approximately $30,000.
- District reduced business manager salary due to the employee’s duties being adjusted due to shared business office arrangement with Valley Union High School, a savings of $15,000.
District hired a long term sub to fill a FY 22 vacant teaching position, a savings of approximately $40,000. This saving comes from paying a sub a daily rate opposed to a salary along with the cost savings from the long term sub not receiving benefits such as the health insurance stipend. With our average teacher salary being $42,954, the cost to the district is quite close to $60,000 for a teacher. A long term sub costs the district roughly $20,000 per year.
District capped health insurance for employees at $8,000 per staff member, a savings of approximately $3,000 per employee or $36,000.
The District Superintendent and Business Manager will continue to monitor spending and with the Governing Board, will make decisions that will lead to outcomes in the best interest of staff and students. The District Superintendent and Business Manager monitor all spending each month with a goal of approximately $60,000 a month for total of yearly expenditures around $720,000. Our adopted budget capacity is $913,781 and in FY 21 we received 889,199 in revenues. The goal of $720,000 puts us under both areas but also allows us a little flexibility in the event that things happen. The District continues to look at ways to increase student population as well as potential staffing changes.