School board moves money around … cautiously

The Mat-Su Borough School Board moved money around Wednesday night in an effort to find funding for several items in the midst of a $3-million budget crunch, and also cut a few items from their list of requests, winning both approval and warnings from their audience.

The board transferred money from several areas; for example, the school board reserve account was emptied and funds from the district's insurance premium account were tapped to cover deficits in salary and benefits accounts. Monies from the insurance premium account were allocated for use at Larson Elementary School and to pay bond premiums. Other funds were transferred to pay for insurance for technology positions, staff development, and a new dump truck and snow plow (that had already been approved at a December board meeting).

School board members balked, however, at the idea of tapping the insurance premium account for two proposed items on their list: $10,000 for additional funding for more public relations in the way of newspaper ads, and $36,000 for two new copiers for the district's administrative office.

Many in the audience at Wednesday's meeting were watching closely to see how the district was spending its money, especially after the district laid off 48 employees just before Christmas. The board voted to handle the newspaper ad and copier requests separately from the rest of the budget revisions, which they passed quickly and unanimously.

Discussion about the latter two items, however, was cautious. "I can't in good conscience support buying more copiers or more advertising," said board member Robert Johnson. "I mean, look at the message we're sending."

Board member Dan Contini, however, cautioned against "nickel and diming" every budget item that came before the school board, saying he hoped the administration would have already carefully assessed the need for items before they came to them. He said if they looked, the board could easily "find a lot of other places to cut."

Assistant Superintendent of Business Jack Sherman said the copiers were to replace two older copiers in the district's administration office, and would have saved the district money in the long run in maintenance and other costs.

When the two items failed to win approval from the board, a tense audience broke into applause. Several members of the community had already testified before the board Wednesday regarding recent lay-offs when the budget was discussed, and more followed suit after the board's decision. "I encourage you all," Karel La Walter told the board in approval of their decision. "You have a strong responsibility here."

Another woman emotionally told the board to continue to be very careful with their spending, "if you have to nickel and dime every item … you took 48 people's livelihood away," she said. The woman reminded the board members that they had been elected into their positions, and could easily be elected out.

Toward the end of the meeting, several board members commented on the budget shortfall, expressing sympathy for those laid off last month and acknowledging the difficulties ahead for the district. "Nobody's happy with the situation we're in now," said board member Robert Wells.