Skyline R-II Board Meeting

December 21, 2009

The Skyline R-II Board met in regular session on Monday, December 21, 2009 with four members present.  The consent agenda items were then discussed and approved.

Skyline School has received Distinction in Performance for 2008-2009 MAP Scores.  To qualify for Distinction in Performance, a school district must be achieving at a high level or making consistent progress at all grade levels.  To qualify for the award this year, K-8 districts had to meet 6 out of 7 performance standards that apply to these districts, including all of those that are based on the results of the MAP tests.

In old business, the board approved a ballot proposal to place on the April Ballot.  The Skyline Board will be asking the Skyline patrons to fully eliminate the Proposition C Sales Tax Rollback in its operating levy in an amount sufficient to maintain an adjusted operating tax levy of $2.9833 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation in order to provide funds for meeting the operating needs of the District.  The tax levy is currently setting at $2.75 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.  If the patrons approve this proposal it will generate approximately $20,000 in additional funds for the district.  A tax levy of $2.98 is still considerably lower than the state recommendation of $3.43 per one hundred dollars.

In new business, the Board approved the Race to the Top proposal sent out by Commissioner Dr. Nicastro.  This is a proposal that has some promise for additional dollars in a very lean year.  The Board then discussed and approved guidelines for a Speech Improvement Instruction program.  This program allows speech articulation services to be provided to students prior to them needing special education services to correct their sound errors. 

The last item in new business was a discussion of changes that are going to need to be made the next two years to adequately maintain a balanced budget.  State funds are being projected to be cut even more over the next two years.  Low enrollment numbers and a staggering economy are other factors that lead into Skyline receiving fewer funds from the state.  Raising the tax levy will help some but it will not be enough to cover all of the cuts.  The Board will continue to brainstorm ideas for cuts over the next few months.