New law will aid Libby schools

Libby School District, despite a failed mill-levy vote last week, will receive additional state funding that could drastically reduce the deficit the failed ballot initiative was meant to remedy.

After voters rejected the May 7 mill levy, Libby Schools Superintendent K.W. Maki began outlining cuts to the district’s budget. Maki said he would have a better understanding of where additional cuts would be necessary by Monday when the school board holds its next meeting.

“We’re going over the (staff) list,” Maki said. “We’ll make recommendations by Monday.”

During the past six months, the board outlined a $700,000 deficit in the 2013-14 budget. Facing declining enrollment and rising costs, the board cut an estimated $350,000 months before the vote and planned to cut an additional $350,000 if the mill-levy failed.

The day before the mill-levy vote, Gov. Steve Bullock signed funding bills for education, pensions and state buildings. Four of the bills passed by the Legislature this year will collectively provide more money and greater financial flexibility to school districts across the state for the next two fiscal years. 

The full effect of the four new laws on the Libby School District has yet to be determined, although it’s clear that they will reduce the district’s projected deficit.

One of those education bills, Senate Bill 175 by Sen. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, increases state funding for public schools by $75 million during the next two years by increasing the per-student funding for both elementary and high school students statewide and by increasing lump-sum payments to school districts affected by oil and gas development in eastern Montana. SB175 also reduces the level of local property taxes required to support school districts’ base budgets.

State Sen. Chas Vincent, R-Libby, voted for two of the four school-funding bills, including SB175, and urged local school board members to attend Office of Public Instruction training to further understand the new funding mechanisms.

“There’s another training session coming June 8 in Helena, and I would encourage the board members, certainly the new ones, to attend,” Vincent said. “Try to get all they can from these sessions.”

During the past school year, the Libby School District received state funding of $5,075 for each elementary school student and $6,497 for each high school student. Next year, with the new law in place, the district will receive $5,120 for each elementary school student and $6,555 for each high school student. The following school year, the district will receive $5,226 for each elementary school student and $$6,691 for each high school student. 

Maki said SB175 will provide additional funding of $90,000-$100,000, but staff cuts still will be necessary.

“Senate Bill 175 is a good thing, but we’re still looking at 12-and-a-half to 13 staff cuts.”

During the last school board meeting, Maki outlined 13.17 staff cuts coming from tenured teacher retirings and resignations, cuts in non-tenured teachers, paraprofessionals, a secretary and administration.

The tenured teachers include the semi-retirement of Wayne Baker, who will still work one-third of the time, and the loss of full-time tenured teachers HenriEtte Brumbaugh, Kyle Crawford, Kathleeen Powers, Diane Rewerts and Craig Rowan. Crawford and Powers resigned.

Other cuts to reach the 13.17 full-time personnel include two yet-to-be-named non-tenured teachers; Corrine Wright, a full-time custodian; paraprofessionals Sue Dotson, Rita Lampton and Patty Vierick; and secretary Carol Oedewaldt, who was reduced to a half-time position. Maki also counted the departure of Jael Prezeau as the final cut to reach the 13.17 figure. Prezeau left the district in July to accept a position at the Office of Public Instruction.

Furthermore the basic entitlement for elementary schools, which was $23,593 in 2013, will increase to $40,000 in 2014. The middle school entitlement, which was $66,816 in 2013, will increase to $80,000 in 2014. The high school entitlement, which was $262,000 in 2013, will increase to $290,000. 

Maki, however, downplayed the impact of the new school-funding laws. 

“Basically, (the additional funding) reduces the deficit to about $600,000,” Maki said.