The Union Public School District ended the fiscal year in good shape.
While approving the financial report at the board’s July meeting, Sandra Martin, assistant financial director, informed the board that its funds increased over the year, which began July 1, 2017, and ended June 30. The school district took in more than the $5.6 million spent on expenses for the year.
“You’ve had a great year,” Martin told the board Monday night.
One factor that may have played into cost savings for the year may have been due to the fact that UPSD operated for the year with an interim superintendent. In fiscal year 2018-2019, the school district will be paying a full superintendent’s salary with Tyler Hansford taking over July 1.
“We had a lot of one-time savings during the year,” board member David LeBlanc said. “However, we don’t need to get comfortable with that and take on a lot of recurring expenses. We have to be really careful going forward.”
The school board also approved a number of year-end fund transfers so that the district finished with a balanced budget. One account in particular that saw a large transfer was the line item that holds Mississippi Adequate Education Program funding.
Martin noted that the district had to cover $240,000 that was not covered in the MAEP funding for the school year.
“Just wanted to note that we received level funding for the year minus $240,000 plus other expenditures,” LeBlanc said.
In other business, the district:
• Approved its consent agenda and claims docket for the month.
• Will void five checks totaling $252 and return the funds to the school activities fund. These checks were paid to game officials but were never cashed. Some of the checks dated back for several years.
• Approved the school district’s professional development plan for the upcoming year. One of the items on the plan included having an active shooter drill on campus prior to the school year, but it will be rescheduled for another day later in the school year. Hansford said he wanted to make sure both Neshoba and Newton County Sheriffs’ Departments were involved in the drill, but there were scheduling conflicts at this time.
• Approved its property insurance bill of $79,356, an increase from $75,449 last year. Most of the hike came from a $300,000 investment made into the elementary and high school’s old gymnasium.
• Allowed a T-shirt fundraiser for the elementary and high school that would net a profit of $500.
• Entered into a contract with the district’s provider for accelerated reader and accelerated math software, which was developed by the same company who prepares the state’s school readiness exam.
• Approved a memorandums of understanding with local head start programs as mandated by law.
• Approved asset disposals.
• Accepted the resignation of Jessie Skinner, who left the district to become a teacher at Neshoba Central. Amy Rich will move from the middle school to take over Skinner’s position at the central office.
• Granted a temporary permit for boys’ basketball coach Josh Allen Darnell to teach driver’s education until he can get certified for the class.
• Approved the full-time and substitute bus driver lists. In a related matter, board members learned that bus routes were shortened both by mileage and time. That will save the district 85 miles per day or 10 gallons of gas per day.
