River Valley CSD Update
Iowa School Board Association Workshop
Summary of Workshop
On Monday, April 20, 2020 the River Valley School Board and administrative team met with Iowa School Board Association consultants regarding the financial status of the district. This was an effort to review district finances, projections for the future, and implications for exploring ways to make the best use of resources to ensure quality student learning. The consultants who led the workshop were Harry Heiligenthal, Shawn Snyder, and Patti Schroeder.
During the first part of this session, staff from IASB’s Finance Support Services Team provided an overview of your district’s financial health as measured by your district’s key financial indicators. Some time was spent looking at broad-based five-year financial projections.
- Overall, IASB staff commended the board and administration for managing finances in a way that the district continues to be financially solvent, even in the face of a 20-year decline in enrollment (a decline of over 170 students since 2001).
- Continued declining enrollment or flat enrollment projections, indicates that the district’s UAB (unspent authorized budget) will continue to move downward as well, and the district will need to consider budget reductions.
- Operational sharing opportunities could provide the district with increased spending authority, revenue, as well as reductions in expenditures.
During the last part of the workshop, board members and administrators talked about the
implications of this information.
- The consensus of team members was to be proactive as possible in moving forward.
- Participants displayed a readiness and desire to explore options for incentive money or operational sharing (recognizing the legislature has currently only approved incentives through FY 2025).
- Team members also acknowledged the criticalness of developing a plan to build community and staff awareness of the financial state of the district.
- Team members expressed an urgency to explore options while the district still has time to be proactive instead of waiting until options are few or the district finds itself in a potentially highly reactive mode.
- In addition, participants acknowledged that if enrollment continues to decline in the future, the district is likely to need to reduce staff and may reach a point where it needs to explore options for sharing students (sports teams, activities, classes or potentially whole grade sharing of students).
Declining Enrollment
Unspent Authorized Budget (UAB) is Key
Leverage Operational Sharing
Weighting by position:
- Superintendents = 8
- School Business Official = 5
- Human Resource Director = 5
- Transportation Director = 5
- Operations/Maintenance Director = 5
- Curriculum Director = 3
- Counselor = 3
- Social Worker = 3
Supplementary weighting is capped at 21 students.
What happens to our UAB based on the Iowa Department of Education Projections?
What happens to our UAB if our enrollment in the future remains flat?
Fiscal Analysis - Key Takeaways
- Enrollment declines have impacted district funding levels
- DE enrollment projections continue to show a downward trend
- Even with flat enrollments, unspent authorized budget amounts are projected to move downward
- Currently the district looks good, but future years may require additional cuts to maintain financial health
- Shared operational functions can and has provided cost savings and increased funding
River Valley Representatives Met With Kingsley-Pierson Representatives
The meeting was a result of the meeting with IASB team and the board discussion. We discussed the following.
- Operational Sharing Possibilities
- Activity Sharing -specifically football and baseball as the most needed for us based on future numbers
The board would like to schedule a community meeting in late July or early August to share information and get community input. Please call Mr. Slater with any questions. Thank you.
Meagan Foresman Appointed District One Director
Meagan currently works for Cherokee Regional Medical Center as a licensed social worker. Meagan is anxious to get started and grow as a board member.
Meagan says, "My focus is and will always be the best interest of the students and the district. I will act and communicate in a way that it is clear I am focusing on this goal."
Please welcome Mrs. Meagan Foresman to the board.
Mr. Kenneth Slater, Superintendent
Email: kslater@rvwolverines.org
Website: www.rvwolverines.org
Phone: 7123724656