Preliminary figures for the 2010-11 budget show that Fairfield Independent School District trustees only have to trim about one percent of expenses to balance.

The early numbers were prepared by superintendent Katie Ryan and district finance officer Leslee Cain and presented to trustees at their regular monthly meeting last week.

Mrs. Ryan stresses that the numbers are preliminary and will change some when certified property values are released by Freestone Central Appraisal District on July 25.

The preliminary budget uses a May estimate of property values that showed a seven percent decrease from a year ago.

FISD should collect about $24.7 million in property taxes, about $500,000 less than last year. Federal and state funds add about $4.5 million and also are down.

The district will surrender an estimated $12.1 million to the state under the Robin Hood school financing plan, compared to $13.5 million in 2009.

Bottom line figure is $17 million, which is what it takes to operate Fairfield schools and exceeds projected revenues by $172,193.

Mrs. Ryan says that closing the gap between revenue and expenses should pose no problem and outlines several cuts that can be made, including not hiring a certified librarian for the elementary school and additional junior high school teacher, and not buying a new school bus. Those three cuts would close the gap.

Of the suggested cuts, a decision on hiring an additional teacher at the junior high school generates the most discussion among trustees.

Two weeks earlier the board decided to seek applications for a teacher for junior high mathematics and science, possibly a teacher certified to teach several subjects as a “generalist.”

Reason for considering the staff addition is because some junior high classes contain as many as 25 students, more than is averaged on other campuses, and the junior high posts the lowest Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test scores of any campus, although those numbers have improved the past two years.

Larger classes, though, are staffed with a teacher and an aide.

The superintendent recommends that the board wait until budget numbers are more firm before a decision is made to hire the additional teacher.

Trustee Tracie Ezell, on the other hand, says that the money should be made available for a teacher, and that the board should look at adding 2-3 teachers to the junior high staff over the next couple of years.

The district has received several applications for the position but has not conducted any interviews.

Board concensus is to move forward to hire a generalist.

In the early budget draft, the largest expenses are $8.7 million for teacher salaries and $2.8 million for mainentenace and operations.

Prior to the board meeting, trustees conducted a public hearing to review federal funds received by the district, and the programs on which they are spent.

FISD will receive an estimated $1.77 million in federal funds in 2020-11, a decrease of $883,006 from the total received last year.

Mrs. Ryan reports that the federal stimulus funds raised the total last year and are not available again. She also notes that $8,363 in funding for safe and drug free schools and for technology has been eliminated.

The district will pick up the safe and drug free and technology funding to continue those programs.

Of the federal funds, $1.4 million is earmarked for the Freestone-Navarro Bi-County Coop, $278,710 is for special education and $74,402 is for teacher and principal training.

In other business, the trustees appointed a member to fill a board vacancy, bought property insurance, awarded food service contracts, approved use of a portable concession stand at Eagle Field, discussed an employee sick days pool and approved stipends for University Interscholastic League academic coaches and vocational personnel.

The board formally accepted the resignation of trustee Rebecca Spradlin and appointed John Fryer to take her place.

Following board procedure, Fryer was appointed because he was the fourth place candidate when three seats were filled in a May trustees election.

Trustees agreed to allow use of a temporary concession stand at Eagle Field by Fairfield Youth Football Association this fall.

The association had asked to use the permanent concession stand, but it was determined that would not be feasible because it would be stocked with Eagle Club and Fairfield Young Farmers supplies, and the old concession stand is currently being used for storage.

As a compromise, Ms. Ryan secured an agreement with Dr. Pepper to provide a portable concession stand if the youth football association agreed to buy Dr. Pepper products exclusively.

In addition, the district will run electricity to the portable concession stand location in the northwest corner of the stadium grounds.

FISD is renewing property insurance coverage with Key and Piskum at a cost of $92,021 annually. Bids from five providers ranged fromn $90,988 to $129,611.

Stipends for vocational coordinators and assistants of $1,200-$5,000 were approved, as well as UIL coordinator and coaches stipends of $400- $3,500.

Food service contracts for the coming school year were approved with Sysco, Oak Farms milk, Flowers Bakers, Blue Bell and Pizza Hut. But, even though the district is contracting with the firms, it reserves the right to buy elsewhere if better prices can be found.

A policy to establish a sick leave pool for FISD employees was discussed again and the superintendent will report back to the board next month with suggested revisions.

Under the plan, district employees can contribute accumulated sick days to a pool to be used by employees facing catastrophic illness or injury that would exhaust their sick days.

The district most likely will follow guidelines of the federal Family Medical Leave Act for allowing employees to take paid time off work if immediate family members are sick or injured.

Before drawing sick pool days, an employee must have exhausted their sick days, compensatory time, personal leave and extended leave.

Action also taken by the board last week includes:

—Accepting a $50 donation from River of Life Church for use of the high school auditorium.

—Hearing a report that student attendance ended the 2009-10 school year at 95.73 percent, slightly higher than last year.

—Approving procedures for superintendent evaluation.

—Approving school handbooks and student codes of conduct.

—Approving step salary increases for personnel on an 11-month contract.

—Employing Francene Haynes as a special education teacher at the elementary school.

—Approving the district

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