School’s preliminary budget keeps tax asking within 1.1% of last year

After taking a big increase in tax asking last year, Perkins County Schools’ preliminary budget shows only a 1.1% increase over last year’s request. 

One of the goals of Perkins County Schools Superintendent Phillip Picquet has been to build cash reserves for the district. 

He and the school board took a big step towards that last year when they increased tax asking for the operating budget by 7.4%. 

In anticipation of a planned maintenance program on roofs and other projects, they also requested $252,525 for the school’s building fund last year. That came after asking for just $17,000 the year before. 

Together, last year’s tax asking for operations and  increase in the building fund combined for a 11.24% increase last year. 

During a budget workshop Monday, Picquet said last year’s request has improved cash reserves. The building fund balance has increased as well.  As a result, he said he worked to tighten projected expenditures and keep tax asking within 1% of last year’s request. At this point, the increase stands at 1.1%.

He did anticipate the school will need to purchase a new activity bus during the year and added $220,000 into the budget. 

COVID Aid funds

Picquet and board members spent nearly an hour discussing  how best to spend COVID relief funds.

Perkins County Schools will receive $327,811 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief 3 (ESSER)funds to be spent over the next three years. 

These funds came as a result of federal legislation to deal with consequences schools faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the requirements is that at least 20% needs to go towards learning loss. “I think that a lot of it should go towards anything that we can do academically,” Picquet said.

Picquet said they have compiled input from staff, administration and visiting coordinators and prioritized ways the money can be spent. 

One of the top priorities will be implementing the LETRS® reading program in grades K-6 and training teachers on how to use it. 

The program, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, helps teachers learn how to deliver effective reading instruction to meet every student’s needs. 

The program focuses on improving a student’s skill in five distinct areas—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Picquet said several teachers have already received the training and are using it in the classroom.  He said schools that have implemented the program have seen reading scores improve.

Picquet said another recommendation included instructional leadership training for teachers and individualized professional development tailored to the needs of each teacher.

Adding before/after school programs will benefit students on both ends of the learning spectrum, from those needing additional help and those needing additional challenges. 

Among other options, continuing to upgrade technology in the classroom will also be prioritized. 

Relief funds are also available to improve heating and cooling systems to provide better ventilation in classrooms. 

Previous ESSER funds are being used to upgrade all lighting fixtures in both buildings to LED lighting.