School ends year with $1.6 million
Holyoke School District Re-1J ended fiscal year 2019 with a general fund balance of $1,602,790, up $371,275 from the beginning of the year. This good news was reported by auditor Scott Szabo of Lauer, Szabo & Associates, PC at the Nov. 25 school board meeting.
Board member Dusty Sprague pointed out that it has been a big priority for the district to increase the reserve. Szabo said he is pleased with the general fund balance, as $1.6 million is a good reserve for the district.
The district ended FY15 with a general fund balance of $1,440,413, but that dropped to $952,907 two years later. A steady increase to $1.23 million ended FY18 before the fund balance climbed to $1.6 million this year.
Szabo added that the audit process went well again this year as he commended Ben Rahe, business and finance director for the district.
Citing variances from the final budget, Szabo noted that the property tax revenue was down $9,518 from budgeted figures, but that was offset by the state equalization funds being up by $9,139 from budgeted figures.
“You’re doing a nice job with funded pupil count and getting those numbers in the budget,” Szabo said.
Budget review was also given for food service, bond redemption, scholarship trust and pupil activity agency funds.
Funded pupil count for Holyoke was 593.8 in FY16, 589.2 in FY17, 587.4 in FY18 and 585.4 in FY19. Szabo said this is pretty steady over four years.
Referencing the district’s FY19 expenditures, Szabo noted that 68.2% went toward salaries and benefits. He said these numbers are very consistent with what his firm sees with all their school districts in northeast Colorado.
Schneider Electric chosen for energy performance contract
Holyoke School District has a draft energy performance contract with Schneider Electric, but some updates are in the works before approval will be given.
Superintendent Kyle Stumpf reported at last week’s meeting that two companies were interviewed in mid-November, with Schneider Electric selected for the energy performance work.
No commitment has been given for an investment grade audit, as the decision is still pending as to the work the district wants to move forward with.
Support expressed for childcare initiative
A work session immediately following the Nov. 25 regular meeting found the school board discussing ways to show support for the Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative campaign.
Whether it be a financial pledge or in-kind services, board members were in agreement that it is imperative to have a relationship with the program.
Potential in-kind services that were mentioned include transportation, first-aid training and snow removal.
Sprague said it could be advantageous for the board to meet with the childcare initiative committee to brainstorm ways to collaborate. Stumpf suggested inviting a couple from the committee to a board retreat to share ideas.
Other business
In other business at the Nov. 25 meeting, the Re-1J board:
— Canvassed the Nov. 5 election results and administered the oath of office for those who were elected.
— Reviewed the monthly food service report from Chartwells, noting that turkey with all the trimmings was served as a Thanksgiving lunch on Nov. 20. With added family and friends, the daily average number of meals was doubled.
— Talked about having a board retreat at the annual December Colorado Association of School Boards convention, as well as three other local retreats throughout the year. Stumpf and administrative director Brenda Krueger will come up with a draft schedule for the board to consider at its next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10.