District board looks at midyear budget status
By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Policy Review Committee of the Whitewater Unified School District was expected to consider changes to the District’s policy regarding snacks in school at its Feb. 12 meeting..
The committee is considering changes suggested at the Jan. 26 meeting of the District Wellness Committee.
WUSD District Administrator Eric Runez said the Wellness Committee meets every other year to review any issues considered pertinent.
“I think most of it has to do with how the district is going to approve food class treats,” Runez said. “Obviously, our food service has to follow federal mandates and guidelines, and we’re well ahead of the curve on that.”
The Wellness Committee reviewed the practices of other school districts. Runez said that any changes in the snack policy will be communicated to families by the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.
The guidelines for what treats students can bring to class are likely to grow stricter, according to Runez, and control for the guidelines will be delegated to administrators in each building. Doing so allows for greater flexibility to adapt rules in the event of new or different food allergies, Runez said.
Runez said the district will also make information available to parents regarding choosing healthy snacks for their children.
Midyear budget review
At the WUSD School Board meeting, also on the 26th, the board heard the report from the 2013-14 audit of its budget and also received a midyear budget status report.
Runez said the district is required to perform an annual audit of its finances. The district finished the 2013-14 school year with a budget surplus of $7,447 in a budget of $21,537,836.98. The surplus became part of the general fund balance.
“We projected we would have a balanced budget,” Runez said. “That’s almost spot-on for that small of a margin.”
Runez said the audit, performed by Reilly, Penner & Benton LLP (RPB), did not reveal any deficiencies or issues with the district’s accounting practices. RPB maintains offices in Milwaukee, Madison and McFarland.
The district also learned at the Jan. 26 meeting what its financial picture looks like for the 2014-15 budget year with presentation of the midyear budget status report.
“Each year, in January, we make it a priority to update the Board on the budget status,” Runez said. “It’s a good opportunity to identify any major variances or anything that sticks out.”
WUSD Director of Business Services Nate Jaeger said the update touched on staff salaries and benefits, which together account for almost 80 percent of the WUSD budget.
The update also addressed utility costs and any savings realized as part of a recently concluded performance contract that allowed for energy-saving projects at each district building.
Jaeger said the update also discussed cash flow issues that lead to short-term lending by the district to cover expenses between July and January.
“We’re eager to get those January tax payments,” Jaeger said. “When they come, we’re waiting by the mailbox.”
Jaeger said the district maintains a healthy fund balance of 21 percent, but borrows about two million dollars per year solely to facilitate cash flow and cover expenses.
The WUSD School Board’s meets the fourth Monday of each month. Agendas are available before the meeting at http://www.wwusd.org.
