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Heating bills don't burn BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD Staff Writer Brainerd School District students and staff began bundling up inside the classroom this winter so that the district could save on heating costs by turning down the thermostats at schools a few degrees.
The mild winter - coupled with a decrease in natural gas prices previously projected last fall and possibly the increase in sweater-clad students - has meant the Brainerd School District's heating bills aren't quite as astronomical as had been predicted.
The Brainerd School District last fall doubled its heating cost budget for the 2005-06 school year from $600,000 last May to $1.2 million last fall. Steve Dickinson, director of business services for the Brainerd School District, had consulted with area gas companies and district buildings and ground staff who projected the sharp increase.
Dickinson told school board members Monday that heating costs for the current school year are now projected to be about $700,000. He said natural gas costs to heat the district's million square feet of buildings during the 2006-07 school year is now projected to be about $945,000.
Board member Bob Nystrom asked Dickinson if the district could reinstate some of the $2.66 million in budget cuts the board approved in December for the upcoming school year as a result of the cost savings.
Dickinson said any savings the district experiences in heating costs may only boost the district's unreserved fund balance, now projected at the end of the year to be just over 5 percent.
Brainerd Superintendent Jerry Walseth told the board that school administrators are continuing to analyze the district's financial outlook after several staff retirements recently have been submitted. This may determine if any budget reductions, including staff positions, are reinstated.
In board action, the school board approved two JOBZ amendment requests, one for Lexington Manufacturing to expand with 15 new positions added at the former Image Rotomolding property and the second for Stern Assembly Inc. to create a new product line to be made at the former A-Tek Manufacturing Building in Oak Lawn Township. Stern Assembly Inc. would create 17 new positions.
The board approved the hiring of Erich Heise as the new Brainerd High School principal.
The board accepted the following resignations, Susan Agre, fifth-grade teacher; Brian Frerks, math teacher; Marlys Howe, elementary teacher; Carol Jackson, science teacher; and Jill Marohn, kindergarten teacher. A three-year leave of absence was approved for Mary Wied.
The board approved the expenditure of up to $30,000 to continue the study of creating a K-12 online learning consortium with area districts.
The board accepted the first reading of 22 new district policies as recommended by the Minnesota School Board Association, ranging from superintendent selection to a bullying prohibition policy and criminal and civil action against district employees and students.
The public is invited to review and comment on these policies, which are available on the district's Web site, www.brainerd.k12.mn.us, by clicking on the "School Board" link.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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