Q How much money was budgeted last year for administrators’ travel in the Emporia school district?
A The district budgeted $29,100 for administrator travel, according to Nancy Horst, community relations director for the district.
Q How much money was spent last year from that budget?
A Horst said that a total of $24,294 was spent.
Of that total, individual administrators and the community relations director spent $17,914 and the remaining $6,378 was for travel and professional development for several special education staff members, she said.
“In addition, we have professional development budget lines in the general, federal and special education funds for registration, transportation, lodging and meals for conferences and training for all certified staff,” Horst said. “This includes administrators and teachers. Administrators’ professional development costs are not kept separately” in those budget lines.
Q How much was budgeted this year for administrators’ travel?
A The budget for 2009-10 is $31,550, Horst said.
Q Does the school district provide vehicles to certain administrators as part of their compensation package or as a benefit?
A “No administrators receive district vehicles as part of their compensation package,” Horst said.
Q How much are they paid per-mile if they use their personal vehicles?
A Horst said the district pays the state rate for mileage reimbursement — currently 50 cents per mile — to employees who use their personal vehicles for district business.
Q How much did each administrator as an individual spend for travel last year?
A The 2008-09 travel expenses listed below for individuals include mileage and registration and related costs for professional development activities, Horst said.
“If an individual administrator is not listed, any travel or professional development expenses were paid out of the professional development budget lines described above,” she said.
The expenses paid out individually, or by building, were:
• Superintendent, $6,678
• Associate Superintendent of Personnel, $280
• Community Relations, $866
• Logan Avenue, $131
• Village, $884
• Lowther South, $400
• Emporia High School (for five administrators), $6,370
• Riverside, $1,105
• Timmerman, $1,200
Because You Asked is for readers with questions on topics of local interest. Questions may be sent to The Emporia Gazette, Drawer C, Emporia KS 66801. Questions need to be signed, but names will not be revealed. Questions submitted anonymously will not be answered.