Members of the Emporia board of education have asked for more information about a proposal that could eliminate or downsize the QUEST program in the school district.
The request came during the board meeting Wednesday night at the Mary Herbert Education Center, 1700 W. Seventh Ave.
The proposal was one of many recommendations sent to the board by the district’s Performance Based Budgeting Committee.
Several board members said the after-school enrichment program for students was an asset, and that they wanted more details about the numbers of children served, the costs, other options that might be available, among other information.
Superintendent John Heim said after-school care still could be available if QUEST were cut.
“It just wouldn’t be as academically oriented as it is now,” Heim said. “Frankly, I was surprised that it ranked as high as it did in the reductions.”
He said that Emporia Middle School’s program might be salvaged through a Juvenile Justice Authority grant, and other grants have been applied for to finance QUEST at Riverside and William Allen White.
“It would provide more funding. I don’t know how much,” Heim said. “We can have those answers for you at the next meeting.”
Board member Brent Windsor suggested turning QUEST over to principals. He asked if cuts from Tiers 2 or 3 could be substituted for the QUEST cut.
“You can certainly do that,” Heim said. “That’s why I want to give you some time to think about it.”
The board voted 6-0 to hire additional instructional coaches at a cost of $200,000 for grades kindergarten through six, the top recommendation by the PBB team.
Funding the cost will come from the second phase of the stimulus package that should bring $800,000 that can be used only on new programs.
Money from the first phase of the stimulus package already has been sent the state.
“There were two buckets of stimulus money,” Heim said. “One was used to prop up state budgets and the other one came through Title 1. ...The money used to prop state budgets is already in there. I guess that’s sort of good news.”
The PBB’s reductions recommendations are:
F Tier 1: supplemental budget lines overall, $6,369; general operations supplies, $30,000; building administration supply line, $8,800; O&M equipment purchases, $20,000; summer maintenance, $30,000. Total savings: $95,169.
F Tier 2: general fund budget lines overall, $17,500; central office administration position, $67,000; QUEST program, $150,000; supplemental budget lines overall, $6,369; general operations supplies, $30,000 reduction. Total savings: 270,869.
F Tier 3: General fund budget lines overall, $17,500; building periodicals/technical supplies and hardware lines, $40,000; all after-school bus service, $60,000; eliminate 5 teaching positions, $290,700; busing under 2.5 miles, $50,000. Total savings: $458,200.
F Tier 4: 5 teaching positions, $290,700.
PBB’s enhancement recommendations are:
F Tier 1: increasing K-6 instructional coaches, $200,000; alternative elementary program, $135,000. Total cost: $335,000.
F Tier 2: increase general education enrichment supplies, $389,988; increase enrichment time, $89,988; increased custodial staff, $20,000; increase specialized maintenance staff, $25,000; increase health insurance benefits for classified staff, $65,000. Total cost: $289,976.
After a presentation by Emporia Recreation Director Tom McEvoy on services and financial needs of the recreation commission, the board asked McEvoy to provide detailed information about how the commission intends to spend the additional money from a proposed increase in the recreation commission’s mill levy. The board also suggested the rec commission provide the board with copies of the commission’s annual audit.