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Acting superintendent: donors to cover transport so therapy and extracurriculars continue; district reports midyear savings
Summary
Acting Superintendent Dr. Vinson said anonymous donors will fund transportation for three student services the district planned to cut; district staff also reported surpassing a midyear savings goal and receiving a positive midterm state funding adjustment.
Acting Superintendent Dr. Vinson told the Stillwater Public Schools Board on Feb. 11 that anonymous donors have agreed to pay transportation costs so the district can continue three auxiliary services that had been at risk because of budget pressure.
The district had planned reductions to outside-contracted programs because of transportation costs. The services that donors will fund through the remainder of the school year are: equine therapy at Turning Point Ranch, swim lessons at the YMCA, and warm-water therapy provided through Total Health. Dr. Vinson said the vendors also agreed to provide services at no cost for the remainder of the year.
Why it matters: these services were described as serving some of the district's neediest students, and the donor support maintains them without a new recurring district transportation expense for the current year.
Budget update: Treasurer Christie Newby and the superintendent reported the district has already exceeded a board-directed savings goal for the fiscal year and received a favorable midterm adjustment from the state. Newby described the board's savings goal as $1,082,231; in the meeting record the district reported total savings of about $1,399,000 to date and a positive midterm adjustment that will help replenish the district's fund balance. Newby provided a breakdown of savings categories that the district is tracking: non-payroll savings ($251,002.65), moving positions to reimbursable federal programs ($586,814), and savings from not filling resignations/retirements ($461,369). Newby said payroll-tracking figures will be updated monthly.
Additional notes: Acting Superintendent Dr. Vinson announced that she intends to retire (her remarks were personal) and thanked staff and the community; board members recognized trustees during board appreciation month.
Quotes: Dr. Vinson, acting superintendent: "When we made the announcement, we had donors, anonymous donors, step up and say we will pay for transportation." (remarks)
Next steps: district staff will publish more detailed budget reports at future meetings and continue to track savings and midyear adjustments.
