During the June 11 meeting, the Moorhead School Board approved the 2012-13 Annual Operating Plan, which includes the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2013.
According to Assistant Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak, this is the second year of the operating levy referendum funding and the AOP includes projected balanced budgets for the next three years. Moorhead Area Public Schools would be looking at deficit spending in fiscal year 2016 if adjustments to either revenues or expenditures aren’t made prior to the 2015-16 school year.
“Any increase in revenue from the state in the next biennium will improve the district’s long-term financial outlook,” Kazmierczak said.
The district’s revenues for 2012-13 increased slightly with the $50/student increase to the general education aid formula. Additionally, the district is receiving approximately $325,000 in literacy aid. Revenues are projected to exceed expenditures by approximately $1.5 million for fiscal year 2013.
“Moorhead Area Public Schools continues to adhere to the operating levy referendum priorities,” Kazmierczak said.
Positions have been added to restore class sizes in core subjects to targeted levels. Mandarin Chinese was added for 2011-12 as an additional world language at Moorhead High, and world language options will be expanded at Horizon Middle School for 2012-13.
Approximately 10 new positions, including two world language teachers, are being added for 2012-13, and three buses are being purchased, the first since 2007. Kazmierczak said the funding for the Truancy Intervention Program (TIP) is maintained, and the request from the Moorhead Police Department to cover a portion of the school resource officers is included in the budget.
For the food service fund, Kazmierczak said the federal government is requiring an increase to district lunch prices. The board will be asked to approve increases at an upcoming meeting. Additionally, the sub sandwich line must be eliminated due to new requirements for the amount of grain served. More salad offerings will be available for students.
Upcoming significant capital expenses for the district may include replacing the track at Moorhead High, additional bus purchases to upgrade the fleet over the next three years, additional gymnasium space at Robert Asp and S.G. Reinertsen Elementary, and replacing the boiler at Moorhead High. A study on the boiler replacement will be done this year, Kazmierczak said.
