SUPERINTENDENT'S CORNER
----- BLUE RIVER VALLEY SCHOOLS -- 3-18-2024 -----
INCLUDED IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
* BRV HOSTS CYBER SECURITY SEMINAR
* BRV ATHLETIC COUNCIL MEETS
* BRV STUDENTS HONORED AT NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY CEREMONY
* INVESTING IN OUR RURAL TEACHERS -- AN ENLIGHTENING ARTICLE ON RANDOLPH SOUTHERN SCHOOLS... WITH A FOCUS ON THE REAL CHALLENGES SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE IN PAYING THEIR TEACHERS COMPETITIVE WAGES
* OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM -- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
* NEXT REFERENDUM COMMUNITY PRESENTATION - APRIL 7, 2024 AT 7:00PM
BRV HOSTS CYBER SECURITY SEMINAR
On Wednesday, March 13th, Blue River Valley Schools hosted a Cyber Security Tabletop Exercise. Approximately 30 school officials (superintendents, principals, tech directors, and other school staff) from 10 different school districts listened to Mr. Kyle Kent (CTO with Electronic Strategies, Inc.) and Ms. Courtney Madden (Senior Account Executive with Electronic Strategies, Inc.) who provided information and guidance on Cyber Security and ransomware attacks for school districts. Refreshments were provided by ESI. The seminar lasted two and a half hours and was held in BRV's high school media center.
Courtney Madden & Kyle Kent (ESI)
BRV ATHLETIC COUNCIL MEETS
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Mr. House (BRV Athletic Director) met with Blue River Valley V, JV, & JH coaches on a variety of topics. BRV administrators and elementary representatives were in attendance as well. A lot of great information was shared in the areas of safety, scheduling, facilities, and athletic programming. Mr. House commended the coaches for working with him throughout this school year in various ways. The Jr/Sr high school athletic department account is in good shape in large part due to the teamwork demonstrated by everyone involved. Mr. House also gave a shout-out to Mrs. Inman (HS Treasurer) as she has worked collaboratively with many folks in the athletic department which has resulted in a healthy athletic fund. Concession stand profits have been distributed to a variety of our athletic teams who have worked concession stands throughout the winter season. The group also discussed summer team development strategies and sharing athletes in a healthy and productive manner. ---- Go Vikings!
BRV STUDENTS HONORED AT CAREER CENTER
Nominated for their dedication to meeting rigorous standards for behavior, professionalism, grades, and attendance, 22 Blue River Valley students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society on March 14 at Bundy Auditorium. Participating in the New Castle Career Center, these students are earning multiple college dual credits, industry-recognized certifications, and exhibit outstanding skills in their selected programs. We are extremely proud of the character and discipline these students display on a daily basis.
Junior Inductees: Cora Bales, Kynslee Davis, Jacob Fox, Charlee Gibson, Madyson Goble, Emily Hiatt, Morgan Jones, Holly Polston
Senior Inductees: Ethan Blackburn, Leslie Carter, Molly Claar, Zach Crull, Landon Cummings, Jeremiah Delk, Kaylyn Denney, Maciah Driskill, Tyler Flynn, Zac McAbee, Emma McDonald, Reagan Parmley, Zayne Parrish, Raj Singh
Mrs. Clone
Go Vikings!
AFTERNOON BRV CAREER CENTER STUDENTS
MORNING BRV CAREER CENTER STUDENTS
RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER PAY
CHALKBEAT - INDIANA
ARTICLE FOCUSES ON RANDOLPH SOUTHERN - THE REAL STRUGGLE FOR RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
From the Chalkbeat-Indiana article below... “We want to pay people — I mean, a happy staff is a productive staff,” said Superintendent Donnie Bowsman of Randolph Southern School Corporation, where the starting salary is $34,500. “$40,000 is great — as long as you have the money to do it.”
Out of 206 rural districts in the state, 181 had minimum salaries below $40,000 last year, with some as low as $32,000, according to data compiled by the IndyStar.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REFERENDUM & SCHOOL FINANCE
What is a referendum?
· A referendum is a public question placed on a ballot by a local unit. Past referenda have included construction projects (for various taxing units, including schools) and operating needs (for schools like Blue River Valley). Property taxes that are approved by voters in a referendum are not subject to the property tax caps.
Are there different types of referenda?
· Yes, there are 3 types of referenda that schools can run
· Construction, Safety, and Operational
· Blue River Valley is running an Operational Referendum to increase teacher salaries
Blue River Valley’s referendum request to the public is $0.19
· This means $0.19 for every $100 of Net Assessed Value on a property
What will the referendum tax levy funds go toward?
· Teacher salary increases
What does Gross Assessed Value Mean?
· This is the initial assessed value of a property before any deductions or credits are given such as a Homestead credit.
If the referendum is successful, when do those referendum dollars come to the school?
· If successful, BRV will receive the additional referendum tax levy funds 1 year after the vote. (i.e. - June of 2025)
How much money will the Blue River Valley referendum generate?
· Approximately $360,000 for BRV teacher salaries
What will the raise amount be for the teachers?
· The goal is to raise starting teacher pay up to $45,000 by the 2026-27 school year
· Additionally, all BRV teachers will receive a similar pay increase.
Have other school districts in Indiana run a referendum?
· Yes, over the past 12 years, there have been approximately 270 referenda run by school districts across Indiana.
How can I find out additional information surrounding this BRV referendum?
· Please go to the following website where you will find an entire section on the referendum.
* I have heard that the school district has the ability to transfer funds from the Education Fund to the school district’s Operations Fund. How does this work?
1. This is a common practice that is used by about every school district across the state as they carry out their district’s monthly and annual business.
2. In 2019, legislation was passed that changed the fund accounting system for schools. As a part of this, the General Fund was removed and the Operations and Education Funds were created. A second layer of this legislation stated that some of the expenses that were being paid from the General Fund (funded through State Support) had to be moved to the Operations Fund (funded through Property Tax). Therefore, schools were also permitted to transfer dollars between the two funds to ensure the expenses that had to be moved were also funded. There is an administrative rule from the State that says a school district cannot transfer more than 15% of its annual Education Fund revenue to the Operations Fund.
3. The General Fund used to pay all school staff salary and benefits, administration office salary and benefits, legal fees, advertising, professional development, material and supplies. In addition, utilities and insurance in excess of $155,275 (this was the maximum that could be paid out of capital projects) had to be paid from the General Fund.
4. Amounts transferred from Education to Operations are items that had previously been paid from the General Fund.
5. These include:
· Salaries and benefits for the administration office and custodians
· Legal fees and advertising
· Utilities and property insurance in excess of $155,275
· Office supplies, postage, etc
6. Transfers do not include any expenses previously paid from capital projects, transportation or bus replacement funds.
7. BRV Basic Grant (Education Fund) 2022 = $4,548,758 x 15% = $682,313.70
· Actual BRV 2022 Education to Operations Transferred $599,229.66 or 13.17%
8. BRV Basic Grant (Education Fund) 2023 = $4,721,543 x 15% = $708,231.45
· Actual 2023 Education to Operations Transferred $481,964.50 or 10.21%
9. IN SUMMARY, THE TRANSFER OF MONEY FROM THE EDUCATION FUND TO THE OPERATIONS FUND IS A NECESSARY AND LEGAL FINANCIAL MECHANISM THAT IS A CARRYOVER FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN SCHOOLS OPERATED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. SCHOOL OFFICIALS, THE IDOE, LEGISLATORS, AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THIS PROVISION, AND SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE APPROVED AT MONTHLY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS CARRIED OUT OVER THE YEAR WITHIN A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
10. Lastly, by law a school cannot transfer funds from an Operational Referendum Fund to the Education or Operations Fund.
* How can the other MID-EASTERN CONFERENCE school districts pay their teachers more than BRV… and they have a lower tax rate than BRV does?
While there are many factors to consider when evaluating this question, the one factor impacting BRV schools more than any other school in the conference is the loss of revenue due to property tax caps (the Circuit Breaker - CB). Please see the following data table which sheds light on this dynamic.
How do other area school districts have lower tax rates than Blue River Valley?
Assessed Value is the driver of tax rates. Blue River Valley has the second lowest Assessed Value in the area. Lower Assessed Values take a higher tax rate to bring in an equal amount of Property Tax Levy. Property Tax Levy is one of the two largest forms of revenue for a public school district.
SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024 -- REFERENDUM PRESENTATION AT BRV -- 7:00PM
The series of referendum presentations are designed to:
* Present the various information and dynamics surrounding the school referendum at BRV
* Answer community members' questions
GO TO WWW.BRV.K12.IN.US FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BRV'S REFERENDUM REQUEST
Trent McCormick
Superintendent
Email: Trent.McCormick@brv.k12.in.us
Website: www.brv.k12.in.us
Phone: 765-836-4816