Uncertainty of state dollars lead Perrysburg school board to reconsider all-day kindergarten plan

4/16/2013

With the uncertainty of state dollars coming in next year after a revised statehouse budget was placed on the legislative table, Perrysburg School District officials said they will not be able to implement a free all-day kindergarten program next year.

Perrysburg superintendent Tom Hosler said at a Board of Education meeting tonight that the district originally thought it would receive a 25 percent increase in state aid under Governor John Kasich's proposal, but said under a House budget proposal, it looks more like a  6 percent increase.

The funding will not be finalized until possibly mid-June. With that uncertainty Mr. Hosler proposed the district continue with half-day kindergarten programs that it currently operates, along with the all-day kindergarten program with an extra fee for parents that is also in place.

The board was hoping to transfer to an all-day only kindergarten program in the 2013-14 year if state aid made it sustainable.

"My biggest priority, I would like to see is all-day kindergarten and reducing class size for [kindergarten through second grade]," Gretchen Downs, board president, said.

Mr. Hosler said the district has to make plans for next year now, and cannot wait to see what kind of state aid it will receive to make such decisions.

The board also approved a change to a performance based pay compensation formula for administrators. If administrators are rated as “accomplished” they would receive a 1.75 percent raise, “proficient” would earn a 1.25 percent raise, “developing” would get 1 percent raise and “ineffective” would not receive a raise.

Mr. Hosler said previously the principals and administrators would receive a 2 percent increase without any kind of performance-based evaluation.

Ratings for the principals will be based 50 percent on student growth measures, and the other half based on an the evaluation from Mr. Hosler.

he board will be voting next month whether to go with an energy savings program from ABM Industries Inc., based out of Detroit.

Three AMB representatives who were at the meeting tonight said the district pays $1,067,045 annually for utilities and $1,243,448 including utilities operations. The representatives said their company could guarantee an annual $749,388 utility payment and $881,690 with operations, a 30 percent annual savings.

Energy savings would include changes to boilers used in different buildings, lighting, and plumbing.

Also Monday, the board:

- Approved the purchase of a 84-passenger rear engine school bus from Cardinal Bus Sales, of Lima, Ohio. The bus cost $96,434, which will come from the permanent improvement fund.

- Approved a trip to France for the French Club, from March 28 to April 6, 2014.

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com or 419-356-8786 or on Twitter at @mthompson25.