The Fairfax R-3 School Board met November 19, 2019. Secretary/Treasurer Karen Burke called the meeting to order at 6:58 p.m. Present were board members Marshal Oswald (who joined via phone at 6:58 p.m.), Jon Graves, Chris Smith and Josh Oswald. Absent were board members Doug Miller, Sam O’Riley and Mike Lewis. Others present were Superintendent Jeremy Burright and K-12 Principal Dustin Barnes.
The agenda was approved with additions and deletions as presented.
Financial Report/
Monthly Reconciliation
In the 2019-20 school year, YTD expenditures are $60,579 below what they were in 2018-19. Also revenue is significantly lower by $218,700. While this may seem alarming, it is due to the large insurance payout that came this time last year for roof repairs. As of November 8, 2019, the fund balance is $918,469.00, which is an increase of $29,922.00 over last year’s November fund balance.
5.2.A. Monthly
Reconciliation
5.2.A.1 19-20 Year: YTD exp., 470,802; and YTD rev., 370,846
5.2.A.2 18-19 Year: YTD exp., 531,381; and YTD rev., 325,840
5.2.B. Monthly
Budget
Comparison
5.2.C. Fund Balance Report
As of October 2, 2019, it is $918,469.28.
The November monthly bills in the amount of $94,249.73 were reviewed and approved for payment.
The lease purchase balance is $58,601.29.
Superintendent’s
Report
We are in communication with the locker company regarding the quality of the lockers that were sent to us. Some of the welds on the locker doors are defective and we are seeking a solution to this problem.
Transportation – We continue to work to keep our transportation fleet up and running. Bus five and six are awaiting electrical repairs and the Dodge van recently had one of the front struts replaced.
There is good news for our district regarding the Brickyard windmill development. I spoke with a representative from EDF that explained that the project might not be dead after all. Usually, there are three cost studies performed for each project in development. For the Brickyard project, the first and second studies had large discrepancies in the final financial estimates. EDF is engaging in a third study and if the findings on the third match more closely with the findings on the first, there is a good chance the project will proceed. There is also a chance that if the project does not proceed with windmills, that another source of renewable energy might be used. This project means a lot to our district in terms of funding.
The focus on priority giving will be the playground surfacing (from the insurance liability list), lunchroom remodel, sound system, and the parking lot.
Principal’s
Report
Staff has been utilizing professional development afternoons to work on at-risk information as well as standards, curriculum and teaching strategies.
Curnutt Trust Information – We submitted a proposal to the Curnutt Trust for the use of the $25,000 that was donated to the school. It was portioned into two areas, curriculum and service learning. They have agreed to our expenditure plan and really liked what we intend to do with their donation.
The book fair was wonderful! Mrs. Bredensteiner will have a final tally for us soon.
The ACDC Junior Job Workshop is in Tarkio Monday, November 25.
The Community Hospital-Fairfax 8th Grade Job Fair at the hospital is Friday, December 13.
The winter program is December 16.
Students will only have a half day on December 19, to begin holiday break.
Athletics
The Fall Athletic Banquet was held Wednesday, November 13, at Fairfax. EA had a very successful fall sports season. The EA Wolves football team were Conference Champions and District runners-up.
The Mound City Tournament starts December 2. EA girls got the first seed and EA boys received the second seed.
The basketball game vs. Stewartsville has been moved to December 19 to correspond with our last day of school for the semester.
The consent agenda was approved.
Audit approval was tabled.
EA Wolves Co-op Meeting – The board decided to meet with Fairfax administration and Tarkio co-op representatives to finalize details of shared coaches’ pay. Currently, Tarkio supplies the majority of coaching positions from their staff and budget. In order for financial equity to exist within the co-op, the two districts are working on an agreement to make the financial contributions of each district more fair. Because students in both districts benefit from the services of staff regardless of the district where they are actually employed, the Fairfax board and district leadership want to find a solution that will preserve the co-op and make financial sense for our district. Board members voted unanimously to have Fairfax administration and co-op representatives meet with Tarkio representatives to work out an equitable split for coaching pay. Chris Smith made a motion to have Fairfax administration and co-op representatives meet with Tarkio representatives to work out game locations. Josh Oswald seconded, but the motion failed with a vote of three yes and one no.
The board unanimously approved a drug testing policy to be implemented beginning July 1, 2020. Implementation of this policy will provide random drug testing for all students in extracurricular activities and any students who are “opted in” by their parents.
Board members voted unanimously to approve the December 2019 graduates pending completion of necessary graduate requirements.
The board unanimously approved base and alternate one bid of $51,657 from Electronic Contracting Company for an upgrade to the fire alarm system. This money will come from the remainder of the lease purchase account.
The next regular board meeting will be Thursday, December 19, 2019, at 1:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
