Fayetteville School District reviews past year’s budget

FAYETTEVILLE — Enrollment growth and strong local tax collection enhanced the School District’s revenue, helping to pay for a variety of facility improvements during the last fiscal year.

Glenda Sullins, director of finance and business services, reported to the School Board the final budget of expenditures for the 201819 school year at the board’s meeting Thursday.

The district collected $102.3 million in combined state and local foundation funding, about $675,000 more than was originally budgeted. Salaries and benefits cost the district $84.3 million, about $188,000 less than was budgeted. Classified and certified staff members received raises for the 2018-19 school year.

The district transferred $1.6 million to its building fund, leaving that fund with about $7.1 million. It spent a total of $1.8 million from the building fund last year on things such as a new playground at Washington Elementary, new flooring in halls and cafeterias, and security cameras at several schools.

Fayetteville’s enrollment grew by about 300 students between Oct. 1, 2017, and Oct. 1, 2018, according to state data. School districts received foundation funding of $6,781 per student for last school year.

The district ended the fiscal year June 30 with an operating fund balance of $13,011,828, which was $8,532 more than the balance at the start of the year, according to district figures.

“It’s a really nice situation to be in considering all the

projects, all the programs that are going on, in addition to the raises,” said board President Justin Eichmann.

The board decided two years ago to aim for an ending fund balance of $13 million each year, Sullins said.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the board reviewed several policy changes they will vote to enact next month. Each of the changes is being made in accordance with changes in state law.

The school health policy, for example, is being amended to reflect Act 247 of this year’s legislative session. That law mandates children be allowed to possess and use a topical sunscreen at school without the written authorization of a parent or doctor.

Another change is being made in accordance with Act 676, which requires schools to maintain a report on the number and percentage of students within a school who either have been granted a waiver from having to obtain a vaccination or have failed to fulfill vaccination requirements.

Waivers may be granted for various reasons, said Tammy Tucker, associate superintendent for administrative services. If a student has a bad reaction to the first dose of an immunization, the parents may request a waiver of the second dose, she said.

School nurses will compile the immunization information, which must be posted online and updated by Dec. 1 of each year, according to the law.

Superintendent John L Colbert notified the board the district has 82 new teachers this school year, including 21 who are just beginning their career. The district also hired 76 classified employees, including bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.

The district has 855 certified and 580 classified employees, a total of 1,435 staff members, Colbert said.