It appears the Mississippi Department of Education is going to slice $1 million from the money it expects to funnel to the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District for the upcoming school year.
Kellia Washington, the district’s business manager, told the school board Tuesday that the state is using figures from February to determine what the allocation will be.
Crucial to state funding, which she said represents 62% of the district’s budget, is its average daily attendance (ADA), because the state distributes money based on attendance. The district’s ADA total, according to the state, is 4,256 students.
In the fall, the district enrolled 4,716 students, a 3% decline from the year before.
Washington noted, “They base it on your average daily attendance, not how many students you have enrolled.”
State funding for this school year was set at $19 million, Washington said, but the projection for 2020-21 is $18 million.
Washington also said “the new school” — an apparent reference to the not-yet-launched charter school, Leflore Legacy Academy — likely will enroll 60 students and draw a significant amount of state ADA funds and local tax money. “They take from your local revenue because they are students in your local community,” she explained.
Washington offered a 4% local tax increase for consideration. This would raise about $434,000, she suggested.
If the board were to decide to ask for a higher tax allotment, it would submit its request for a certain amount to the Leflore County Board of Supervisors. At that point, the board would figure a rate based on assessed valuation and by law raise the requested amount of money, said county Tax Assessor Leroy Ware, who was not present at the meeting.
The district also expects a 15% decrease in non-COVID federal funding. “For the time being, that is what we have to work with,” Washington said.
Meanwhile, costs are increasing. “We are trying to figure it out,” Washington said.
The district expects about $3.4 million in CARES Act aid, and it has reserves “we can dip into,” she said. But “there are still some things we don’t know.”
Dr. Kalanya Moore, a board member, said “I think we must make a concerted effort (to) scale back a little more to keep us safe.” The board did not discuss a tax increase.
It did approve some expenditures, including $97,000 for Canvas, an online distance-learning platform that administrators assured the board saves money compared to the current program. The expectation is that CARES Act funds can be used to finance the new platform. Dr. Kenneth Pulley, deputy superintendent, urged the board to move foward with Canvas now and, when questioned, confirmed that the platform would be used for extended learning programs over the summer.
The board also debated about whether to tap the interest from the district’s 16th Section land leases to pay for repairs in the basement of the central office, which has experienced a water leak. Charles Johnson, an assistant superintendent, said he had received two quotes for the work, which involves floors and walls. The lower one was for $175,000. Jackie Lewis, a member of the board, observed, “To me, lower is not always the best.”
The board balked and decided to wait until a third bid, which Johnson was expecting, is made.
The board, however, did approve a bid by the Leflore County Hunting and Fishing Association to lease 41.5 acres of 16th Section land for $1,500 a year over five years. The association is the previous leaseholder, and there were no other bids. The district expects to lease eight more 16th Section hunting and fishing properties in July and, after harvest, agriculture properties for which leases are coming due.
Dr. Mary Brown, the district superintendent, reported to the board about plans for the start of school in August, saying they are not yet ready because of COVID-19 safety considerations. But, she said, “as we await more guidance from the Mississippi Department of Education ... we are moving forward.”
Among the issues are busing, social distancing, sanitation, classroom and lunch schedules, emotional support for students and staff, distance learning, student attendance, policy revisions, handbook updates, athletics and the arts, she said. More information should be available in coming weeks.
nContact Susan Montgomery at 581-7241 or smontgomery@gwcommonwealth.com.
