NEWS RELEASE
Monday, September 20, 2021 – 12:15 p.m.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Board of Education Central Office on Monday, September 20, 2021, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting. Mr. Wood opened the Budget Hearing. Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented information regarding the 2021-22 budget. Mr. Wood closed the Budget Hearing
Board members approved the 2021-22 budget.
The board adjourned.
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, September 20, 2021 – 12:00 p.m.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Board of Education Central Office on Monday, September 20, 2021, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting. Mr. Wood opened the Revenue Neutral Hearing. Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented information regarding the Revenue Neutral Hearing. Mr. Wood closed the Revenue Neutral Hearing.
Board members approved the following:
· Resolution 21-07 – To Adopt LOB Percentage
· Resolution 21-08 – A Resolution expressing the Property Taxation Policy of USD 234 Fort Scott with Respect to Exceeding the Revenue Neutral Tax Rate for Financing the Annual Budget for 2021-22
The board adjourned.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
BOARD OF EDUCATION
September 15, 2021
A special meeting of the board of education, Unified School District No. 234, Bourbon County, Kansas, is hereby called to be held at 12: 15 p.m. on Monday, the twentieth day of September 2021, in the USD 234 Board of Education central office. The purpose of the meeting is a budget hearing and to consider the 2021-22 budget.
By order of the President of the Board of Education of Unified School District No. 234, Bourbon County, Kansas.
September 20,2O2L Special Board Meeting – 12:15 p.m.
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 234
BOARD AGENDA
1. Open the meeting
2. Flag Salute
3. Open Budget Hearing
4. Comments
5. Close budget hearing
5. Consider 2021-22 budget
7. Adjourn
(Action)
September 20,2O2L Special Board Meeting – 12:00 p.m.
A special meeting of the board of education, Unified School District No. 234, Bourbon County, Kansas, is hereby called to be held at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, the twentieth day of September 2021, in the USD 234 Board of Education central office. The purpose ofthe meeting is a revenue neutral hearing and to consider Resolution 2l-07 to adopt LOB percentage and to consider Resolution 21-08 expressing the property taxation policy of USD 234 Fort Scott with respect to exceeding the revenue neutral tax rate for
financing the annual budget for 2021-22.
By order of the President ofthe Board of Education of Unified School District No. 234, Bourbon County, Kansas.
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 234
BOARD AGENDA
1. Open the meeting
2. Flag Salute
3. Open Revenue Neutral Hearing
4. Comments
5. Close Revenue Neutral Hearing
6. Consider Resolution 21{7 – To Adopt LOB Percentage
8-25-21Res. 23-07.pdt
7. Consider Resolution 21{8 – A Resolution Expressing the Property Taxation
Policy of USD 234 Fort Scott with Respect to Exceeding the Revenue
Neutral Tax Rate for Financing the Annual Budget for 2O21-22
8-25-21 Res. 21-08.pdf
8. Adjourn
(Action)
(Action
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, September 13, 2021
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, September 13, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda.
The board approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – August 20, 2021 – $1,293,655.87
D. Financial Report
E. Activity fund accounts
Patrons spoke in the public forum, and the board heard from community speakers.
The board reviewed the Operations Plan. In addition, Ted Hessong, Superintendent; Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk; and Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics, gave reports. Principals from each building shared written reports with board members.
The board approved the following:
· The Summit on Professional Learning Communities at Work for administrators and faculty
· Memorandum of Understanding with Freeman Health Center for an athletic trainer
Board members reviewed the first day enrollment count.
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Kourtney Harper, high school paraprofessional, effective September 3, 2021
B. Resignation of Joy Gray, middle school paraprofessional, effective September 2, 2021
C. Extended leave of absence for Becky Howard, middle school paraprofessional
D. Work agreement adjustment for Patsy French, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, from a 7.75-hour day to an 8-hour day for the 2021-22 school year
E. Work agreement adjustment for Allen Davis, 8-hour middle school custodian, to a 6-hour middle school custodian/2-hour central office custodian for the 2021-22 school year
F. Work agreement adjustment for Dee Peters, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, from a 4.5-hour work day to a 7.5-hour work day for the 2021-22 school year
G. Employment of Makyah Goldsby as a middle school paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
H. Employment of Gregg Sweet as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
I. Employment of Jenna Bunn as a Winfield Scott paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
J. Employment of Mary Jo Harper and Alex Chesney as high school assistant musical directors for the 2021-22 school year; transferring Kelli Davis, high school freshman assistant volleyball coach, to high school head freshman volleyball coach for the 2021-22 school year
K. Stipend for Angie Kemmerer, middle school social studies teacher, of $3,500 for gifted education support
L. Addition of a nurse for the preschool center, part-time or full-time
The board adjourned.
The Uniontown Eagles have had a rough start to their football season. Friday, September 4th’s game was cut into two parts due to weather concerns.
The second half of that game was played the following Monday, the 6th.
Treden Buckman lead in rushing that game, with 79 yards. Andrew Buckman followed with 45 yards. Andrew also led in passing for that game with 35 yards. Brycen Stewart, Korbin Miller, Byron Fry, and Matthias Johnson each had 1 knockdown during the game. The ending score on Monday was 7-22.
Last Friday, saw Wabaunsee travel the long four hours to our home field.
Treden rushed 39 yards and Joey Marlow rushed 23 yards. Korbin Miller had 4 knockdowns, and Byron Fry and Colby Hueston each had 3. The game ended 6-17.
No coaches were available for comment, but the players are eager to keep morale up and turn this season around.
-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter
Dave Trabert, Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Policy Institute, Overland Park, sent an email response to fortscott.biz‘s feature on the USD 234 Budget on Sept. 2.
“Under the new Truth in Taxation legislation, mill rates are reduced by law so that new valuations produce the same dollar amount of property tax…hence the name ‘revenue-neutral rate,'” Trabert said. “If the school district wants to take in more property tax dollars next year, they have to notify taxpayers of their intent, hold a public hearing, and then vote on the entire tax increase they impose.”
USD 234 Board Clerk/Business Manager and Certified Public Account Gina Shelton’s answers to Trabert are in blue ink.
“Correct – which we did,” Shelton said in a response to the Trabert email that fortscott.biz sent her. “What is missing from that statement is that we are to adopt a revenue-neutral rate based upon an estimated assessed valuation.”
“In general terms, it is a simple formula: Assessed Valuation (a) X Mill Rate (b) = Property Tax Assessed (c). If (a) and (b) stay the same, an entity would be revenue-neutral. If (a) increases and (b) stays the same = higher property tax assessed. If (a) increases and (b) decreases = lower property tax assessed/revenue neutral (depends on how much (b) is). “
“The school district only controls (b).”
” What the formula does not consider are things like 1) Collection Ratio 2) Neighborhood Revitalization (or other economic programs administered through other entities) and 3) the Assessed Valuation is an estimate.”
“This year, we received two separate revenue-neutral rates due to an error on the part of one of the utility companies. We also know that there is a larger taxpayer in our county that has applied for exemption, yet it was not backed off from the estimated assessed valuation. The exemption is retroactive to the date within the application. These are all factors that were considered when recommending being Revenue Neutral or not.”
“There is also a timing factor. We are very early on in a bond payback. Our bond is why the school district’s mill rate is as high as it is. We are committed to being good stewards of our taxpayers’ commitment.”
“When we reworked the bond in 2020, we were able to save our taxpayers $5,792,515.15 and will be able to pay it back five years earlier. However, we still have a way to go before that bond is paid off – September 1, 2035.”
“I don’t believe it is fiscally responsible to adjust the bond mill. The bond mill has to be considered because for the school district to qualify to be revenue neutral – we would have had to adjust our mill rates in all of the other funds (since the 20 mills in our General Fund is set by statute).”
” We know we have capital outlay needs for our district to maintain our facilities. Deferred maintenance costs more money. We did not feel it prudent to reduce the mill in the Capital Outlay fund.”
“In our LOB fund, we use a big part of this to pay for utilities. We were advised to budget 6% increases in electricity and 18% increases in gas. What would we cut to make up for those increases? What opportunities would we cut for our kids?”
“Gina Shelton’s claim that the LOB resolution has no impact on property tax is simply not true,” he said. The only way that could happen is if they adopted the revenue-neutral rate of 13.431. They choose to increase property tax… by 1.7% if they adopted the proposed mill levy. If the district adopted each of their proposed mill rates, they increased the burden on taxpayers by close to 2%.”
“In fact, it is claims like hers that drove taxpayers to demand the Truth in Taxation legislature,” Trabert said.
“I’ve never spoken to Mr. Trabert, to state that ‘claims like hers’ without having a single conversation with the person shows how very political this is.”
” I believe in transparency in government. I also firmly believe in being fiscally responsible. Our board has always been transparent about the challenges and positives of our school district to our community. Our board considered the pros and cons and made the decision based on the recommendation we made.”
Trabert included a chart:
http://www.kansasopengov.org/kog/databank#report_id=90&County=Bourbon
“We collected the information from each county clerk via Open Records requests,” he said.
“Any entity that does not follow the Truth in Taxation law is prohibited from spending above the revenue-neutral rate,” Trabert said.
“We are fully aware of this requirement,” Shelton said. Prior to the due dates set by the state, we discussed publicly what Revenue Neutral means for our taxpayers as our board meetings.”
“At the board’s July 12th board meeting there was a motion made to allow us to submit paperwork to the county to allow us the option to not be revenue neutral.”
“We declared to the county by the July 20th due date.”
“We held a detailed special budget/RNR presentation on July 30th, where we had one member of the public attend. This was an hour-long meeting meant to educate our community.”
“We then published in the Fort Scott Tribune newspaper on August 11th. After publishing, I only had one taxpayer come into ask questions and look at our budget.”
“I have always encouraged our taxpayers to please sit down with me to look at our budget to help explain what we do with those funds.”
“We then held a hearing on August 25th at 5:30. We received no comments or questions from the public at this hearing although the intention of that is to allow for that feedback.”
“We held our budget hearing on August 25th at 6:00. We also received no comments or questions during this hearing as well. Both were well attended.”
“Our community supports our kids. I’m sure Mr. Trabert has concerns regarding property tax – as we all do – however, he does not live, work, or send his kids to school here.”
“As someone who attended public schools in Fort Scott, lives here and has a student attending USD 234, my continued commitment has always been to be fiscally responsible of the dollars our taxpayers trust us with.”
“I believe our students are worth more than a political debate on property taxes. Mr. Trabert has not taken any time to call and discuss our particular district with us, but decides to contact the press? This leads me to believe that his concern is more with taxes in general versus our particular district or the challenges we face. Let’s work toward a workable, positive solution – our kids deserve that.”
“Kansas Policy Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization that protects constitutional rights and economic freedom,” Trabert said. “I am the CEO and work in our Overland Park office. Here is some background on our history and mission. https://kansaspolicy.org/about/”
“We were instrumental in getting the Truth in Taxation law passed.,” he said. “Senator Caryn Tyson, who represents most of Bourbon County, can also provide information on the legislation.”
“I have great respect for Senator Tyson. We have had several conversations where we discussed the challenges that face school districts. Challenges in addition to the fiscal side of schools. She knows how important our students are and how much our great state depends on their success. Public education provides opportunities that no other state program provides -both in the “right now” and for our future. The success and education of our students warrants our investment in them.”
NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 – 6:00 p.m.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting. Mr. Wood opened the Budget Hearing. Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented information regarding the 2021-22 budget. Mr. Wood closed the Budget Hearing
Board members approved the 2021-22 budget.
Board members heard a presentation by Dr. Doug Shane.
Several patrons spoke during the public forum.
Board members approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Allison Dey, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
B. Resignation of Jessica Johnson, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
C. Leave of absence for Haleigh Lowry, Winfield Scott cook
D. Transfer of Megan Hull, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, to Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year; transfer of Vangie Korinke, Eugene Ware paraprofessional, to Winfield Scott paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
E. Employment of Andon Prestley as a Eugene Ware paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
F. Employment of Mikiah Anderson as a preschool center paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
G. Employment of Laryn Thompson as a middle school 7.5-hour paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
H. Employment of Shytanna Reed as a middle school paraprofessional for the 2021-22 school year
I. Employment of teacher mentors for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years
J. Resignation of DeLynn Abati as the high school play assistant, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
K. Employment of Josh Hudiburg as a middle school assistant boys’ basketball coach for the 2021-22 school year
The board adjourned.
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 – 5:30 p.m.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting. Mr. Wood opened the Revenue Neutral Hearing. Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk, presented information regarding the Revenue Neutral Hearing. Mr. Wood closed the Revenue Neutral Hearing.
Board members approved the following:
· Resolution 21-07 – To Adopt LOB Percentage
· Resolution 21-08 – A Resolution expressing the Property Taxation Policy of USD 234 Fort Scott with Respect to Exceeding the Revenue Neutral Tax Rate for Financing the Annual Budget for 2021-22
The board adjourned.
