Trimble Banner, Bedford, April 28, 2016
LPC continues facilities assessment
By CRYSTAL CAUDILLO
The Trimble County Local Planning Committee met on Tuesday, April 19, at Bedford Elementary School. The high school was toured at 5:00 to allow the committee to view the condition of the building.
The high school should have been renovated at the 30-year mark and according to the Parson’s Report is ranked the 22nd in the state of Kentucky. The original portion of the present Trimble County High School was built as the Bedford Elementary School in 1962, the majority portion of the present structure was completed in 1969, and an addition in 1972 and a final addition in 1974. However, 1-21 on the list are not high schools. Trimble County High School is actually the 1st high school in urgent need. The General Assembly grants funds for renovation or rebuilding of schools that fall into this category. The school next in order is Hart County.
Dr. Robert Tarvin of Ross Sinclair and Associates presented information to the Committee on bonding.
Our district has one bond we can refund. Approximately half of this will go to the general fund. Dr. Tarvin additionally stated that the nickel recall continues to be available. The recall nickel, the bonding capacity as well as the contribution from the urgent needs grant will determine the funds we can apply to our facility.
Further, the district may not receive the urgent needs contribution until best community effort is made with the recall nickel.
Dr. Bob Wagner, OVEC Financial Consultant addressed SEEK Funds as well as demographic trends.
The SEEK Fund (Support Educational Excellence in Kentucky) is money from the state which is provided to the school on a per student basis. The enrollment of the district as well as ADA (average daily attendance) is what drives the amount of money contributed by the state. The more students enrolled means the more state revenue provided from the state. The drop in the district’s enrollment has taken a significant toll on state revenue.
Trimble County is trending downward in student enrollment. This decline has been steady for several years. Families with school age children have been moving from the county likely seeking new employment opportunities. The remaining families have no children of school age. These families comprise 70 percent of the remaining residents.
The decline of enrollment based funds has raised the need to discuss ways in which to correct this deficit. An increase in the school tax rate to a level that works is one possibility to help this problem.
Dr. Wagner acknowledged this may be a “hard sell” to families with no school age children.
Another possibility is to make “deep, painful cuts” to services.
Dr. Wagner reported that the funds required to pay personnel and provide benefits is the “biggest chunk of money.” A remaining option is to find ways to draw more families to Trimble County.
Dr. Wagner emphasized that a sense of immediacy is necessary to fix this problem. The worst case scenario would be the state appointing a manger to the district which will replace the Trimble County Board of Education.
LPC Facilitator Mark Ryles made a suggestion for discussion at a later date. He mentioned that some schools in similar circumstances in eastern Kentucky had consolidated schools to improve efficiency.
The forum was opened to provide members of the audience to ask questions, make comments, or express concerns.
Frederica Congleton asked whether the possibility of a non-resident tax at the place of employment could be levied.
Gregg Fisher reassured the forum that citizens of Trimble County are supportive of students. He cited the two new elementary schools as evidence of this sentiment. He further posed the question that if the decline in enrollment is due to the condition of the high school can the District and the LPC ask for a waiver?
John Higgins made the comments that the focus should remain on the welfare of the teachers and students. The District should be vigilant in the management of existing
funds, continue to investigate any programs that may exist to address these problems and to continue to support faculty and staff.
Bob Yowler stated that the student is a customer of the services provided by the school system. A customer has the legitimate expectation to be provided the best “product” available. He further stated that as “every student is important, ADA is critical.” The focus should remain on a complete, quality education of all students in the district. While some cuts are necessary the consideration of new ideas should be undertaken.
The participants in the forum also briefly mentioned zoning.
Tara Isley complimented the Committee on its transparency. She also requested that copies of the reports be made available to the public before the meetings.
The next LPC meeting will be held on Monday, April 25 at the Milton Elementary School at 5:30 p.m. The Public Forum will begin at 7:30 p.m. MES will be toured.