Interim super outlines concerns; board waits for a letter
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
Interim superintendent Don Schaedig provided updates at Monday?s Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education meeting regarding another drop in the student count, a possible state aid cut and the latest on snow days.
Schaedig, who was hired in November when superintendent Dan Byrne was charged with felony computer crimes, said the weather trend could mean the district all of its allotted snow days. The state allows 30 hours a year.
?We have 5.8 days left before we would have to start making up days,? said Schaedig in the superintendent?s report. ?It looks like this winter could be the winter where we use up all of our days. I can recall when I first started we had 17 snow days (early 1970s). We have a ways to go.?
SCHAEDIG TOLD the board he wanted to meet with Tim Horn, chairman of the planning and financing committee about formulating budget amendment No. 1 and begin early discussions about the 2009-10 budget.
?It looks like our enrollment continues to decline,? he said. ?Just a rough projection, but it looks like we are going to have a decline of 10 to 15 students next year.? Schaedig urged the board not lose sight of long term planning, even in these tough times.
?It is sometimes difficult to do long term planning, but it is an area we need to address in terms of upgrading our infrastructure, equipment, buses, computers and things of that nature. I know it is always difficult to find resources to address those issues, but it is necessary to address if you want to run a school district.?
THERE ARE mixed messages coming from Lansing regarding state aid. On one hand, Schaedig said Gov. Jennifer Granholm has announced schools will be spared any budget reductions. Her announcement was expected Wednesday.
?What you have to keep in mind is the state aid fund is separate from the state general fund, so when she says no school aid reductions she is not talking about the general fund,? said Schaedig. ?The school aid is a separate fund, so from what we?ve been hearing, there will not be enough money to fulfill the entire foundation grant this year. ?Maybe something changed that we are not aware of. As recently as of two weeks ago, we were told we could expect a $100 per student reduction, which in our case would be about $60,000.?
THIS LATE into the school year, any reduction of that magnitude would probably have to be absorbed by the fund equity. ?I want to thank Mr. Marx for all you?ve done the last couple of months. I want to thank you for all your time and effort and helping us get through this difficult time,? said Schaedig.
?For myself, I and humbled and appreciative of all the support and encouragement I?ve received from school staff to members of the community. It is really heart warming to hear people say ?we are glad you are available to help out.? My response is that if I can help the school through this time I am more than happy to do it, although I?m not happy with snow days.?
Schaedig, who has been working as a consu
BOARD PRESIDENT Mike Marx was looking for input from fellow board members about the possibility of conducting a special meeting this month to discuss ?our superintendent needs in the future.? Some of the dates Marx suggested were December 15, 22 and 29.
?As you all know we are sort of waiting on a letter, and I have not received the letter in order for us to move on as a district,? he said. Marx didn?t specify who the letter would be from.
As of Tuesday, no letter of resignation from Byrne had been submitted to the superintendent?s office. Byrne is scheduled for an arraignment in Presque Isle County Circuit Court on two felony charges next month.