Tecumseh Local School District’s Board of Education (BOE) members came together for the BOE’s annual Budget Hearing and Organizational Meeting held at 5:30 on Jan 10, 2016 in the Arrow Conference Room located in Tecumseh High School.
During the Organizational meeting, Debra Schock was sworn in to another term as District Treasurer by District Superintendent, Norm Glismann.
BOE member Kurt Lewis was voted to another term as BOE President, and Mert Christmann was re-elected Vice-President. Treasurer Schock administered the oath of office to both of them.
A note was made of the BOE’s new 6:00 pm meeting time. Meetings were previously held at 7:00 pm. Regular meetings will continue to take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month, with special meetings being announced per state law. BOE member Corinne Scott recommended moving some meetings to the various elementary schools, saying that doing so will give more parents the opportunity to attend a meeting. The idea is being taken into consideration by BOE members.
BOE members were appointed to different liaison and committee positions for the next year. Dan Studebaker will serve as the OSBA Legislative Liaison and on the Student Achievement committee. Corinne Scott will serve as the OSBA Legislative Alternate, on the CIP/Strategic Planning committee, and as Music Liaison. Kurt Lewis will serve on the Tecumseh Education Foundation and as the Finance Committee Liaison. Mert Christmann will serve as the Athletic Liaison, and Peter Scarff will serve with the Academic Hall of Honors committee.
Each BOE member also “adopted” a school and will spend extra time working with the staff in those buildings. Studebaker will go to Donnelsville Elementary, Scott will be at Park Layne Elementary, Christmann will work with New Carlisle Elementary, and Scarff and Lewis will spend time at Tecumseh Middle School. All BOE members will work with Tecumseh High School.
The Organizational meeting ended with the BOE voting to continue giving authorization to the District Superintendent and the District Treasurer to hire, accept resignations, and administer disciplinary action between BOE meetings, where BOE members can vote to accept or reject any action taken.
During the Budget Hearing, District Treasurer Debra Schock walked the BOE members line by line through the district’s estimated budget. Copies of the budget presented at the meeting can be acquired through the BOE office.
According to Treasurer Schock’s records and the estimates she made by considering the school district’s recent financial activity, she reported the Tecumseh Local School District has a beginning estimated unencumbered fund balance of $10, 894,035.09. When the district’s other sources of revenue are added to that balance, the district has an estimated $46,700,789.49 in total resources available for expenditure.
Treasurer Schock then showed BOE members where money was being spent. The district’s total expenditures and encumbrances equal an estimated $36,087,866.39; which leaves an estimated $10,612,923.10 in the district’s budget.
Schock also included a snapshot of how the district will stand at paying off the New Building principal during the 2018 fiscal year.
Debt incurred for new buildings was authorized by voters on Nov. 4, 2003. According to Schock, the district will still owe $13,544,975.00 on the buildings during the 2018 fiscal year. The amount required to meet the budget year’s principal and interest payments is $1,266,688.76.
Due to circumstances beyond her control, Schock was unable to present an updated five-year financial forecast to the BOE during the Budget Hearing, but is hopeful she will have the information available for presentation at the BOE’s regular February meeting.
Additional financial information for the district can be found online at the Tecumseh Local School District’s website by clicking on “Financial Information” listed under the “District” tab.
