Slight increase projected for next Shawano School budget

Shawano School District officials Monday got their first look at a preliminary budget for the 2008-09 school year, which calls for a nearly 2 percent increase over the current school year.

Unknown at this point is the amount of state aid the district will receive or the amount of the tax levy. Those two things fund the roughly $23.9 million revenue limit the district is allowed this year, an increase of nearly $740,000 more than allowed under this year's revenue limit.

This year's tax levy was $8.78 million, with a an equalized tax rate of $6.78 per $1,000

State aid is based on student count, which will not be officially known until the annual third Friday count in September. However, the district is projecting there will be at least 2,473 students. The district had $16.5 million in general state aid this year.

In other matters, the School Board approved a contract with Robert W. Baird to serve as financial advisor for the proposed building referendum, which will go before voters in September, and approved a three-year contract with Premier Community Bank to handle banking services.

The board also approved a contract with GSA Cleaning Services to handle custodial duties at district schools.

The board heard a report from the New Facilities Action Team, which has been working on the new elementary school building project that will be the subject of the September referendum. NFAT will hold a meeting May 15 with Focus on Energy to discuss the environmental issues.

The board also accepted a $5,000 donation from the Shawano Area Community Foundation for the district's anatomy class.

In other business, the board elected its officers for the new year. Jean Darling was elected School Board president, John Granchay was elected vice president, Jim Heinz was elected treasurer and Wendy Gueths was elected secretary.

Slight increase projected for next Shawano School budget

Shawano School District officials Monday got their first look at a preliminary budget for the 2008-09 school year, which calls for a nearly 2 percent increase over the current school year.

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