Treynor School Funding
Kevin Elwood, the Treynor school superintendant, is in his 12th year at Treynor. He started in 1998 as the High School Principal.
The biggest challenge at Treynor at this time is the 10% budget cut from the State this year. This is the worst financial period in Iowa schools in four decades. School contracts are completed in April and the budget cut came in October. Therefore, salaries cannot be cut. The State cut was $262,000 for Treynor, which helps pay for salaries, lights, heat, bus fuel, snow removal, etc. 80% of the Treynor budget is for salaries, which leaves only 20% for other items.
In a November 11 memo to the school staff, they outlined 15 reasonable steps for cutting costs. These include turning off half the hall lights, removing personal appliances in rooms, network printing instead of buying ink for small printers, and not attending national conferences.
Looking ahead, the State budget for next year should be certified by April 15. The State has recommended a 2% salary increase next year, but that is unfunded.
Iowa is using Federal stimulus funding to pay for some of its school obligations. That money is only for two years. Treynor is expecting another $100,000 cut in Iowa funding next year and $250,000 the following year, due to the expiration of the Federal stimulus money.
Iowa schools must have 180 days of school each year. Treynor has eight days to make up. Three of those are built into the calendar and the teachers will skip one in-service day. Iowa just opened another option, adding minutes to each school day. The school board will look at that option, along with reducing the Easter holiday at the next board meeting.
Mr. Elwood demonstrated a new web site, www.treynorfan.com, that just started two weeks ago. This web site started broadcasting sports games and other activities on January 22. It will also contain archives of activities. The site costs $200 per month, paid through advertising and supporters, not by the school. The High School marketing class will be selling advertising, the web design class will maintain the web site, and the accounting class will track finances for the class.