SIDNEY — The formula for school funding is a complex and confusing process.
Mike Watkins, Sidney City Schools treasurer, discussed the foundation funding for the district during Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.
The district, he said, was slated to receive $13,158,208.85 for the year through the opportunity grant, which is one of the foundation funding components. The grant is based on money per pupil received from the state along with the number of students enrolled in the district. The money is divided into 24 payments, which are made to the school district during the school year.
When he received notification for the first payment of February, the yearly total was $13,158,208.85. However, with the second payment, the yearly total was decreased to $13,033,726.44, which means the district is receiving $124,462.41 less than anticipated for the year.
“The second payment in February is the first payment for the school year where the student count had an impact on the funds received,” said Watkins.
Special education funding was also decreased from $2,430,737.35 to $2,376,748.20, a difference of $53,989.15 less coming to the district through state funding.
State funding per student is $5,900, said Watkins. In the first February disbursement of funds, the district had 568 students enrolling out of Sidney City Schools, while 105 enrolled into the district through open enrollment. The district lost $2,721,488.92 in state monies which followed the students to their new district.
In the second February disbursement, there were 587 students who enrolled out of the district, while 103 students enrolled into the district. The district lost an additional $120,537 through open enrollment.
The estimated number of students living in Sidney City Schools District is 3,898.34, said Watkins. The actual number of students living within the district is 3,861.46, a difference of 36.88 students.
There are 13 steps in which to calculate the state share index and its distribution of the foundation formula funding among Ohio’s school districts, said Watkins. The process includes the calculation of the valuation index, income index, wealth index and state share index.
In other business, the board:
• Heard a report from Emerson School Principal Mike Epperly, who talked about the Building Leadership Team (BLT), which meets monthly.
• Accepted the tax rates and amounts determined by the Budget Commission for calendar year 2017, authorize the necessary tax levies and certify them to the county auditor.
• Accepted the settlement agreement with Reiter Dairy LLC. During the school years of 2010-11 through 2013-14, the district was overcharged for its milk purchase. The settlement calls for Sidney to receive $18,641, which will go back into the cafeteria fund.
• Accepted the resignation of Amy Schroeder, Sidney Middle School cook, effective March 2.
• Accepted the resignation of Laura Pennington, certified substitute clerk, effective May 20.
• Hired Sandy Wooddell as SMS cook on a one-year limited contract at $10.16 per hour effective March 7.
• Hired Anthony Cardo as a substitute cook on a one-year, as-needed contract at $9.14 per hour, effective March 7.
• Hired Kevin Veroneau as varsity girls soccer coach on a one-year supplemental contract at $5,106.
• Employed Charlie Tucker and Gail Dafler, program coordinators, and Travis Weldy, program instructor, for the Bridges After-School Program at Sidney Alternative School effective Feb. 23. Tucker and Dafler will each be paid $1,200, while Weldy will receive $26 per hour. Salaries will be paid with a $5,000 grant for the program received from the Shelby County United Way. There are 28 students and six parents enrolled in the program, which runs from Feb. 23 to April 28.
• Approved Sidney High School curriculum additions beginning with the 2016-17 school year. Classes include web design, video and sound and consumer math, all Upper Valley Career Center satellite courses, cryptography and math lab.
• Approved an overnight student trip for the SHS boys bowling team to Columbus for the state bowling tournament March 3-4. The team finished 13th at state and was the first time they qualified for the state tournament.
• Went into executive session to consider the employment of an employee. No action was taken.
The board’s next meeting will be Monday, March 21, at 6 p.m.
