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Hamilton board passes levy, okays second assistant coach
By Joy Swearingen/MVM News Network
HAMILTON, Ill. - Hamilton School District's tax levy is only slightly higher than last year's.
The board approved a levy of $2,155,700. The levy is a dollar amount that the school district requests for next year's budget, based on the district fund rates applied to an estimated assessed valuation of property in the district.
The actual local property taxes received based on last year's levy were $2,080,117. That makes an increase of .964 percent for the new levy.
While districts are only required to hold a “Truth in Taxation” hearing if the levy request is 1.05 percent of the previous year's levy, the Hamilton School board started their regular meeting Wednesday with a hearing.
“This levy does not meet the 105 percent requirement for holding a hearing, but we want to share this information with the public,” explained Superintendent Dr. James Jackson.
About half of the $75,000 increase will go to the tort immunity fund. A review of the budget showed that the district was not levying enough in the tort immunity fund to cover the increased cost of insurance premiums and related tort bills. About $33,000 will go to that fund.
Following a closed session to discuss personnel, the board approved hiring a second assistant coach for the Titan girls basketball team. Tom Buckert spoke to the board, urging them to consider this move.
“We have around 25 on the boys basketball team with three paid coaches, and 35-plus on the girls team, with only two paid coaches,” Buckert said. “The girls brought us a lot of attention last year, and made us look good. They shouldn't be involved in the politics of this. They need to be concerned with their playing and with being sure their school work is done well. I'd like you to consider (adding a coach).”
The board also authorized the administration to hire a volleyball coach and to hire a scholastic Bowl sponsor for junior high and senior high teams.
The board authorized Jackson to more forward with QZAB funding for about $750,000 in building projects approved at the November meeting.
Jackson said that he had worked with learn.com to provide a 10 percent community in-kind contribution, required on the application. This company will donate instructional software that will be installed on district computers for one year.
“All paperwork has been filled out for the grant, and it is sitting on a desk at the Illinois State Board of Education. We've done everything we physically can to qualify for the grant. We hope to let bids for the work in January,” Jackson said.
In answer to a question by Rusty Dowdall, Jackson noted that the 0 percent loan is made through a local bank and has no penalty if a payment is late.
“We structure the repayment plan,” Jackson said. “QZAB allows banks to make us the no interest loan and they get a tax credit.”
The new Hamilton district Web page - www.hhs328.com - was shown by district technology coordinator, Mike Coultas. The site includes information on sports, a calendar of events, lunch menus, contacts with teachers, a blog chat page for comments on any district issue and much more. There are links to many other local sites, and news bulletins will run across the home page for things such as early dismissal or snow days.
“One of my goals was better public relations. We have done newsletters, but as far as district relations, our time is best spent on the Web page,” said Jackson.
Jackson passed around what he described as a “snapshot” of the year-to-date budget comparing fund balances with previous budgets at this point in the year. He noted that in both the education and operations and maintenance funds, the balances are about $100,000 less this year than they were at the same date in 2007.
“Our expenses continue to outstrip our resources. What we're doing, running balances like this, is using up cash reserves. We have to be cautious. No one knows what's happening in the governor's office. Some money may be prorated,” Jackson said. “We need to look at what to do, and if you want to cut any staff.”
Board president Doug Summers tossed out another idea.
“We got information at the start of this meeting that Hamilton has one of the lowest tax rates in the county, and we heard from our tech director that we are still behind in what we need there. I don't like the knee jerk reaction of cutting things when money is tight. I don't know what I would want to give up. I don't like the idea of low balling the school,” Summers said.
“I am not that eager to raise taxes, but I'd be willing to say that to continue the kind of progress we have made, we need to fund the district,” said Summers.
Mark Menn said, “I don't disagree, but four years ago, the people agreed to add 50 cents to the education fund. We don't want to chase opportunities away, but we've got to take a strong look at where we're spending money. If we have fewer students, should we spend more money? I think it would be a good idea for the board to consider a meeting dedicated to looking at the future of the district.”
He suggested looking into more vocational tech classes like the welding class.
“Another thing that needs to be thrown out in this discussion is consolidation. Bigger does not mean better, but the per pupil cost is less when you have more students,” Summers added.
Tom Schilson noted, “We need to look at both sides. What can we do to keep the budget in line, but by the same token, we need to look clearly at what we would have to give up.”
Craig Huls brought back the question of cafeteria costs.
“I did some research on last month's bills with what went for the cafeteria, all food items and labor. I would like to see an update on the actual costs and compare that with Aramark,” Huls said.
Jackson told the board that he has already made contact with Aramark, which is a food service company, asking them to come to the January meeting with hard numbers based on the volume and quality of food the schools are accustomed to.
In principal reports, Ron Gilbert reported that junior high and high school students enjoyed the Fun City event that was a reward for students who did well on eight on-line practice tests and students who passed all four areas of the ISAT tests. District scores raised from 56 to 73 percent of students that meet or exceed standards.
“The rewards are good and they work hard to get it,” Gilbert said.
Summers noted that with all the negative things that are said about No Child Left Behind, the Hamilton administrators took the challenge and found incentives that work for the students to improve.
Dave Snowden, elementary principal, reported on the break-in discovered at the elementary school Dec. 15. He praised Police Chief Walter Sellens and officer Rob Bell for their help and said the investigation is on-going. The damage has been repaired and nothing appears to be missing, he said.
It was noted that work has progressed on renovation of the baseball field, with much of the work being done by Chris Murphy and his son Robert.
“They have given us $5,000 in volunteer labor and only charged for diesel. I'd like people to know how much time he's spent out there with the dozer,” said Menn. About eight inches of surface was removed and replaced with a new clay and sand mix.
“I've gone out there after a rain, and it drains really well.”
The board approved a levy of $2,155,700. The levy is a dollar amount that the school district requests for next year's budget, based on the district fund rates applied to an estimated assessed valuation of property in the district.
The actual local property taxes received based on last year's levy were $2,080,117. That makes an increase of .964 percent for the new levy.
While districts are only required to hold a “Truth in Taxation” hearing if the levy request is 1.05 percent of the previous year's levy, the Hamilton School board started their regular meeting Wednesday with a hearing.
“This levy does not meet the 105 percent requirement for holding a hearing, but we want to share this information with the public,” explained Superintendent Dr. James Jackson.
About half of the $75,000 increase will go to the tort immunity fund. A review of the budget showed that the district was not levying enough in the tort immunity fund to cover the increased cost of insurance premiums and related tort bills. About $33,000 will go to that fund.
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“We have around 25 on the boys basketball team with three paid coaches, and 35-plus on the girls team, with only two paid coaches,” Buckert said. “The girls brought us a lot of attention last year, and made us look good. They shouldn't be involved in the politics of this. They need to be concerned with their playing and with being sure their school work is done well. I'd like you to consider (adding a coach).”
The board also authorized the administration to hire a volleyball coach and to hire a scholastic Bowl sponsor for junior high and senior high teams.
The board authorized Jackson to more forward with QZAB funding for about $750,000 in building projects approved at the November meeting.
Jackson said that he had worked with learn.com to provide a 10 percent community in-kind contribution, required on the application. This company will donate instructional software that will be installed on district computers for one year.
“All paperwork has been filled out for the grant, and it is sitting on a desk at the Illinois State Board of Education. We've done everything we physically can to qualify for the grant. We hope to let bids for the work in January,” Jackson said.
In answer to a question by Rusty Dowdall, Jackson noted that the 0 percent loan is made through a local bank and has no penalty if a payment is late.
“We structure the repayment plan,” Jackson said. “QZAB allows banks to make us the no interest loan and they get a tax credit.”
The new Hamilton district Web page - www.hhs328.com - was shown by district technology coordinator, Mike Coultas. The site includes information on sports, a calendar of events, lunch menus, contacts with teachers, a blog chat page for comments on any district issue and much more. There are links to many other local sites, and news bulletins will run across the home page for things such as early dismissal or snow days.
“One of my goals was better public relations. We have done newsletters, but as far as district relations, our time is best spent on the Web page,” said Jackson.
Jackson passed around what he described as a “snapshot” of the year-to-date budget comparing fund balances with previous budgets at this point in the year. He noted that in both the education and operations and maintenance funds, the balances are about $100,000 less this year than they were at the same date in 2007.
“Our expenses continue to outstrip our resources. What we're doing, running balances like this, is using up cash reserves. We have to be cautious. No one knows what's happening in the governor's office. Some money may be prorated,” Jackson said. “We need to look at what to do, and if you want to cut any staff.”
Board president Doug Summers tossed out another idea.
“We got information at the start of this meeting that Hamilton has one of the lowest tax rates in the county, and we heard from our tech director that we are still behind in what we need there. I don't like the knee jerk reaction of cutting things when money is tight. I don't know what I would want to give up. I don't like the idea of low balling the school,” Summers said.
“I am not that eager to raise taxes, but I'd be willing to say that to continue the kind of progress we have made, we need to fund the district,” said Summers.
Mark Menn said, “I don't disagree, but four years ago, the people agreed to add 50 cents to the education fund. We don't want to chase opportunities away, but we've got to take a strong look at where we're spending money. If we have fewer students, should we spend more money? I think it would be a good idea for the board to consider a meeting dedicated to looking at the future of the district.”
He suggested looking into more vocational tech classes like the welding class.
“Another thing that needs to be thrown out in this discussion is consolidation. Bigger does not mean better, but the per pupil cost is less when you have more students,” Summers added.
Tom Schilson noted, “We need to look at both sides. What can we do to keep the budget in line, but by the same token, we need to look clearly at what we would have to give up.”
Craig Huls brought back the question of cafeteria costs.
“I did some research on last month's bills with what went for the cafeteria, all food items and labor. I would like to see an update on the actual costs and compare that with Aramark,” Huls said.
Jackson told the board that he has already made contact with Aramark, which is a food service company, asking them to come to the January meeting with hard numbers based on the volume and quality of food the schools are accustomed to.
In principal reports, Ron Gilbert reported that junior high and high school students enjoyed the Fun City event that was a reward for students who did well on eight on-line practice tests and students who passed all four areas of the ISAT tests. District scores raised from 56 to 73 percent of students that meet or exceed standards.
“The rewards are good and they work hard to get it,” Gilbert said.
Summers noted that with all the negative things that are said about No Child Left Behind, the Hamilton administrators took the challenge and found incentives that work for the students to improve.
Dave Snowden, elementary principal, reported on the break-in discovered at the elementary school Dec. 15. He praised Police Chief Walter Sellens and officer Rob Bell for their help and said the investigation is on-going. The damage has been repaired and nothing appears to be missing, he said.
It was noted that work has progressed on renovation of the baseball field, with much of the work being done by Chris Murphy and his son Robert.
“They have given us $5,000 in volunteer labor and only charged for diesel. I'd like people to know how much time he's spent out there with the dozer,” said Menn. About eight inches of surface was removed and replaced with a new clay and sand mix.
“I've gone out there after a rain, and it drains really well.”
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CONCERNED wrote on Dec 23, 2008 10:52 PM: