PALOUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT #301  -  GARFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT #302

SPECIAL JOINT BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2002

The Garfield school board and the Palouse school board meetings were opened at 6:09 p.m. by Garfield board chairman Mike Cronk.

Present: Garfield board members Mike Cronk, Jill Palmer, Roger Pennell, Warren Neal, and Craig Cochran. Palouse board members Kent Keller, Mike White, John Leendertsen, Jerry Schwartzman and Paula Echanove. Also Present: Principal/Superintendent Beverly Fox, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, Business Office Assistant Frankie Swinney and Recorder Cindy Kimberling. Guests: Richard Leinweber.

Bev Fox opened with the review of what the meeting was to accomplish. She reported that the cost sharing that originated at the beginning of the cooperative needs to be looked at because of the economy of the districts. The board members were asked to look for a fair concept of the cost sharing aspect.

Cost sharing for the 1998-1999 school year was looked at as a basis.

Mrs. Fox is hoping that at the January 24, 2002 meeting the boards will review the ideas that come out of this meeting, and have more discussion to make decisions because of the ramifications of the overstaffing projections for the following school year. The cost sharing must be dealt with before the boards can go further with budget and possible cuts.

Patsy Dunning reported that the cost sharing for the 99-2000 school year was not done because the approximate $20,000 - $25,000 that Garfield normally pays Palouse through the cost sharing was not there. The cost sharing for 2000-01 school year needs to be done also.

Patsy Dunning reviewed the cost sharing for the 1998-99 school year with the board members. It follows page by page:

Page 3 – included Garfield Elementary teachers that were paid out of Palouse. Most of this has been changed.

Page 4 – included non-salary teaching costs for basic ed. and vocation expenses. This was adjusted on a per student rate.

Page 5 – included K-12 libraries and computer labs expenses split on K-12 average enrollment basis. Concerns: Transportation income comes to Garfield only. The 1998-99 format would consider Marv Pillers salary as transportation and computer technology. This needs to be split for 2001-2002 school year. Some of the expenses should not be based on K-12 enrollment. For instance, an elementary buys a computer, maybe that should not be shared on the enrollment basis of K-12.

Page 6 – included special education program expenses. This has changed to each building bearing their own special education expenses.

Page 7 – included costs of middle school and high school athletics, clubs, etc split on equal shares. Suggestion: Do on participation basis or on enrollment.

Page 8 – included all expenses in the traffic safety program. This has changed. The district does not fund this program anymore. The excess revenue was shared equally.

Page 9 – The hot lunch program. All revenues go to Garfield. The expenditures are divided by participation.

Page 10 – the expenses in the Principal's offices were split by K-12 enrollment basis. The superintendent and school board expenses were split equal shares.

Page 11 – included high school supplemental contracts were split by 9-12 per pupil basis. The middle school supplemental contracts were split by 6-8 per pupil basis.

Question: Can one district fund a program that benefits both buildings given the available funds? Recommendation: Restructure the cost sharing first then see what happens.

Page 12 – included the gifted program. The deficit is shared equally. Now it's different.

Page 13 – included all expenses for the motor pool. Expenses were shared equally.

The meeting recessed for 10 minutes at 7:34 p.m.

The board members discussed different methods of cost sharing. These are the recommendations:

MS activities - split according to enrollment 6-8, or by participation, or at least 1/3 of the expenses.

HS activities - split according to enrollment 9-12, or by participation, or at least 1/3 of the expenses.

If Garfield drops below 30% of the districts total enrollment the cost sharing that is based on enrollment needs to be revisited.

Traffic safety – split on a participation basis.

Gifted & talented – each elementary pay for its own contract.

Motor pool – split equally.

School board – split equally.

Superintendent – Salaries to be paid 1/4 out of funding from Garfield & 1/4 out of Palouse, The balance of funding is pooled and applied to the principals. Split the deficit on K-12 enrollment.

Is this scenario retro active for the last two years? This was a question for all of the suggestions brought forth at this meeting.

At the January 24 meeting there will be a 2001-02 basis summary of the cost sharing available. Cost sharing for 99-00 and 00-01 will be available by the old method and on the basis that was talked about this evening.

The special joint meeting recessed at 9:17 p.m.

The special joint meeting reconvened at 9:20 p.m.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.