Houghton board OKs 2008 budget

By GARRETT NEESE, DMG Writer
HOUGHTON — $7,374. That’s what Houghton-Portage Township Schools’ general fund balance will be a little more than a year from now, according to budget projections. The school board approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year Monday containing no major changes but few positive surprises. The estimated 2008-09 budget has $9.73 million in expenditures, up from $9.59 million this year. The district is projected to end the fiscal year ending June 30 with $86,945 in the bank. “There won’t be another year we’ll be able to sneak by,” said Board Treasurer Buck Foltz. “That’s a fair assumption.” Polkinghorne said the projections for next year don’t include any potential energy savings from the energy conservation work that would be done if a bond extension is approved in August. He said the work is projected to save the district about $110,000 per year. “If the bond issue doesn’t pass, we’re going to have a real serious issue,” he said. “This is critical for us.” The board approved one cost-saving measure Monday, eliminating its technology coordinator position and voting to contract with Regional Educational Media Center Support Net Consortium. “We get the technology expertise of quite a number of people that are good in various fields,” Polkinghorne said. Polkinghorne said with REMC, there would be a physical presence in the building four out of five days, and service would be available five days a week through telephone. He said current technology coordinator Ted Belej would be working for REMC. The board also approved a new procedure for testing out of high school classes. To test out of a class, a student must receive an 80 percent or better on one or more assessments offered by the school district. Credits will be given, but the class will not be counted in computing grade-point average. If a student tests out of a class they previously failed, the failing grade will still be used in calculating GPA. In other action, the board: • set Sept. 2 as the start date of school. • scheduled another public meeting on the bond issue for June 30 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. • heard from Elementary School Principal Doreen Klingbeil that Great Explorations has been renewed for another five years. • heard from High School Principal Kass Simila that the district’s graduating seniors placed 27th out of 830 districts in the state on their state assessment scores. • appointed Brad Baltensperger as a candidate for the Michigan Association of School Boards Board of Directors. Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com