School Board Reviews Finances

The Cheyenne County School District No. 1 Board of Education Monday discussed the possible trend in funding for the next few years.

The board met for its regular meeting Monday. Among the agenda items were the financial reports where Superintendent Jay Ehler said the district is in the anticipated $635,000 shortfall, a result of the loss in valuation in Sidney real estate.

He said while revenue is down, expenditures are very close, only about a half percent higher than last year. He added that while the tax revenue is down this year, it is actually a little more than $200,000 higher compared to two years ago.

“Really, what’s happening is valuation in Sidney is dropping,” Ehler said.

He said the equation is complicated with state funding “always a year behind.” He expects the District’s cash balance to go down some. By the third year out, the state funding will catch up with the District’s needs and the following year the valuation will start to return.

Much of Monday night’s meeting involved changes in staff. The board accepted the resignation of special education teacher Cindy Payne. Later in the meeting, the board approved hiring Tomi Rodak, special education teacher from Scottsbluff, to take Payne’s position starting the 2019-2020 school year. The board also approved Emma Fulton as an art teacher, and approved Marcus Ehrke as the new volleyball coach and as P.E. teacher.

Ryan Smith will join the middle school teaching staff, coming from Hershey where he was also football coach. In addition to coaching, Smith will be teaching seventh grade social studies.

The board also approved Julie Smith as a new guidance counselor at North Elementary School.

The board also approved an overnight travel request by the Danz Team to attend a summer dance camp in Greeley July 17 -20 with 16 students trying out to attend the camp.

The board also approved student transfers in and out of the District. Four students are leaving the District and one is entering.