Superintendent reports ADM drop, outstanding insurance balance and plan to offset deficit

Superintendent Woods reported to the Patrick County School Board that the district's March 31 average daily membership (ADM) report reduced the division's local funding by about $280,136 for the coming year and that an outstanding insurance balance remains on the county's account.

Woods said the county 'did not apply any of those statements to the deficit' and that the district has a $282,269.94 balance owed to the division's insurance carrier (Jefferson Health, as named in discussion). He said the district will apply returned local funds toward that balance and will reduce the next reimbursement to SROs (school resource officers) to offset the county's outstanding insurance obligation. The superintendent said doing so should eliminate the district's insurance deficit and improve future renewal rates.

The superintendent also reviewed capital priorities and maintenance needs while discussing the budget, noting several candidate projects for 1% funds: roof replacements, the high-school track, stadium light poles, epoxy floor coatings at Blue Ridge and drainage at the softball field. He said the division had previously contributed $150,000 to reduce a prior deficit when insurance accounts were split. The board asked clarifying questions about whether the county's separation from the district insurance pool was voluntary; the superintendent said the county chose to separate for insurance purposes.

Board members pressed for cost details on the larger proposed projects and discussed whether some work should be done under state contract pricing; the superintendent said many estimates reflect state contract rates and that some projects have partial grant matches. No additional appropriations were made during the meeting; the board later voted separately to approve the 1% projects as presented.