County owes school over $2M from 2004
South Ripley schools begin year in the red
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Although South Ripley's colors are green and white, this year they began in the red. That was the report given by Corporation Treasurer Lana Miller at the regular meeting on Monday, January 10. This is due to the corporation not receiving their draw from property tax money on time. There is still $2,280,000.00 not collected from the county for 2004 from property taxes and $282,000 from excise monies that has not been received. She reported that all claims were paid as of December 31, 2004.

"Property tax delays are costing us money even though we haven't had to borrow any," noted Miller. She explained that the school has used money they would normally be drawing interest from just to operate since they haven't had the usual draws from the county due to property tax delays. She said in 2004 the interest money was $40,709, and in 2001 the interest collected was $130,000. She said the interest had declined for the past two years.

Beginning 2004 and 2005 in the red has "created lots of problems" Miller told the board. She noted that the school receives 80 percent of their money from the state and 20 percent from the county. She gave detailed reports of each of the funds to the board, going over the individual funds so the new members would have that information.

"We're fortunate we haven't had to borrow," noted Superintendent Ted Ahaus, saying many area schools have had to borrow just to operate. The school has established a line-of-credit, but so far Miller reported they haven't had to tap into it. "We're not borrowing, we're just not making the interest money," she said.

Ahaus complimented Miller and the job she does with the corporation.

"She is second to none in the area," he noted.

At the beginning of the meeting, Attorney Merritt Alcorn swore in the new members, Jim Samples and Chris Bradford. Jim Miller and other board members welcomed the new members to the board.

The election of officers for the new year took place at the Monday, January 10, meeting, with Jim Miller being voted president; Keith Mathews, vice president; and Robert Garcia, secretary.

Chris Bradford, Randy McIntosh and Ralph Miller were voted to serve
on the Administrative Non Certified Committee; Chris Bradford and Robert Garcia to the Athletic Council; and Randy McIntosh volunteered to be the Legislative Representative after Jim Samples withdrew his nomination. This action met with a 6-1 vote, with Samples being the dissenting vote.

Randy McIntosh, Keith Mathews, and Chris Bradford will serve on the Negotiating Committee.

Under personnel there was some question when the recommendation to hire Mary Beth Krall was brought before the board. In the absence of Caroline Cumberworth from February 8-March 18, it was recommended that Krall take her place. It was noted she was one of four applicants who were interviewed for the position. Samples asked to see all of the applications of the other candidates saying, "a person has the right to see who applies." Discussion among board members indicated his request did not follow the current hiring procedures. President Miller noted that the issue would be addressed in an executive session.

"That's one reason I was elected to this job...the hiring practices," Samples commented. Members voted 6-1 to hire Krall, with Samples giving the dissenting vote.

The maternity leave for elementary teacher Sarah Smith from March 14 until the end of the year met with unanimous approval as did the leave for Enrichment/Remediation Assistant Amy Linkel for the same time.

The request for the FFA trip to attend the Farm Machinery Show in Louisville on February 18, was given unanimous approval.

Superintendent Ahaus gave an update on the progress of the joint board meetings with Jac-Cen-Del concerning consolidation. "This is only in the exploration stage," he emphasized as he told the board plans are in the making to interview architects and construction managers to discuss what they can offer as far as a feasibility study for consolidation.

"Is the state forcing Jac-Cen-Del and South Ripley to consolidate within four years?" asked Samples. Ahaus noted that was absolutely not the case.

In other business:

· The entire board will serve as the Board of Finance.

· Year end balance of appropriations, expenditures, investments for the year and encumbrances met with unanimous approval.

· A new electric sign will be installed for the corporation. Money to purchase this was obtained through insurance money from a vandalized sign and grant money from the Tyson Fund.

· Lana Miller was approved with a 7-0 vote to continue as treasurer with Deb Tompkins as deputy treasurer.

· Ahaus noted there is one snow make-up day so far and it will probably be scheduled for February 21.

· The 2005-2006 school calendar will be submitted to the board at the February meeting.

The only change from last year's meetings will be the time. The school board will continue to meet in the administration office on the third Monday of each month, but the time
will now be 6:30 p.m. instead of last year's 7:30 time.

Dennis Stockdale gave a report on the new food service software that is being installed this week at both the elementary and high schools. He noted that he believes the new program will give privacy to students using the reduced and free lunch programs thus increasing the use of these valuable services.

The new program will eventually have a feature where parents can pay for their child's lunch online. Stockdale said he thought that would be available sometime soon after spring break.

The public meeting concluded at 8:50 p.m. with board members going into executive session. All members were in attendance: Randy McIntosh, Jim Samples, Robert Garcia, Keith Mathews, Ralph Miller, Chris Bradford, and Jim Miller. Attorney Merritt Alcorn and Superintendent Ted Ahaus were present to advise the board. Also attending were Dennis Stockdale, assistant to the superintendent, and Treasurer Lana Miller.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the South Ripley School Board of Trustees is set for February 21, at 6:30 p.m.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

South Ripley Corporation Attorney Merritt Alcorn, left, administers the oath of office to new board members Jim Samples and Chris Bradford at the regular meeting of the board of trustees held Monday, January 10, at the administration office in Versailles. The meetings for 2005 will be held on the third Monday of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m.