Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center board of education approves five-year financial forecast
The Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center will be spending down its current $3.5 million general fund carryover balance over the next five years but should be able to get through the period if there are no drastic revenue reductions and spending continues to be contained. That was the bottom line of a state-required financial forecast that was approved by the career center board of education at its regular meeting Oct. 20.
In a narrative provided with the forecast, Sherry Paullin, treasurer, said the next two years will be critical for the school because state funding and the Ohio economy are in a state of uncertainty. “With Ashland County’s high unemployment rate, delinquencies in tax payments, and the governor’s budget overhaul, it becomes very difficult to predict our revenue and expenses for the next two years and almost impossible for the remaining years of the forecast,” she said. “All schools face the prospect of less revenue from state and federal sources and voters who are usually willing to bear a larger burden but no longer can afford it.”
Paullin said the general fund will be able to stay out of the red during the five-year period if a 1.0 mill operating levy is renewed or replaced a year from now. She noted that the levy accounts for 19.4 percent of general fund appropriations and that the career center has not had any new revenue since voters approved a 0.5 mill replacement levy in 2005.
The career center board of education also heard a report on the first year of the school’s Bioscience College-Now program from Jim Hull, dean of health sciences at North Central State College in Mansfield, and career center course instructor Amy Elderbrock. The bioscience program was changed this school year from a regular high school academic program to a college-level course that will result in students who successfully complete all requirements receiving a two-year associate degree.
The program has 10 students -- eight girls and two boys -- from a variety of schools in and out of Ashland County. Elderbrock said student career goals include registered nurse, doctor and a four-year bioscience degree.
“They’re juniors in high school who are college ready and working very hard at this point,” Elderbrock said. “All three (North Central State) professors involved with the program say they interact more than students at the college.”
Hull said the paperwork is being completed on an articulation agreement that will give students two years of credit at Ashland University and allow them to get four-year degrees in areas such as a bachelor of science in toxicology. He also said AU has received a grant from the state BioOhio program that could provide students with scholarships that could cover up to 75 percent of their costs.
“We’re fortunate to have the right combination with NC State and the right teacher,” said Mike McDaniel, career center superintendent. “There’s not a program like this anywhere else in the country and that’s pretty amazing.”
In other business at its October meeting, the career center board of education:
- Authorized a contract with CompManagement Inc. to provide workers compensation services under the retro-rated program. Paullin said the school did not qualify this year for regular discounts because of a major injury to one employee last year. The change will reduce the school’s premium discount down to 30 percent and cost an additional $17,000 to $18,000 over last year.
- Unanimously approved a resolution opposing expansion of private school vouchers, noting that the proposal would take dollars from the already financially beleaguered local public school districts and result in less recourse for the remaining students.
- Authorized the superintendent, treasurer and principal to evaluate bids received earlier for video conferencing equipment for the newly remodeled career center group room, determine the lowest responsible bid and award a contract. The action was delayed until the school upgraded Internet connections.
In a narrative provided with the forecast, Sherry Paullin, treasurer, said the next two years will be critical for the school because state funding and the Ohio economy are in a state of uncertainty. “With Ashland County’s high unemployment rate, delinquencies in tax payments, and the governor’s budget overhaul, it becomes very difficult to predict our revenue and expenses for the next two years and almost impossible for the remaining years of the forecast,” she said. “All schools face the prospect of less revenue from state and federal sources and voters who are usually willing to bear a larger burden but no longer can afford it.”
Paullin said the general fund will be able to stay out of the red during the five-year period if a 1.0 mill operating levy is renewed or replaced a year from now. She noted that the levy accounts for 19.4 percent of general fund appropriations and that the career center has not had any new revenue since voters approved a 0.5 mill replacement levy in 2005.
The career center board of education also heard a report on the first year of the school’s Bioscience College-Now program from Jim Hull, dean of health sciences at North Central State College in Mansfield, and career center course instructor Amy Elderbrock. The bioscience program was changed this school year from a regular high school academic program to a college-level course that will result in students who successfully complete all requirements receiving a two-year associate degree.
The program has 10 students -- eight girls and two boys -- from a variety of schools in and out of Ashland County. Elderbrock said student career goals include registered nurse, doctor and a four-year bioscience degree.
“They’re juniors in high school who are college ready and working very hard at this point,” Elderbrock said. “All three (North Central State) professors involved with the program say they interact more than students at the college.”
Hull said the paperwork is being completed on an articulation agreement that will give students two years of credit at Ashland University and allow them to get four-year degrees in areas such as a bachelor of science in toxicology. He also said AU has received a grant from the state BioOhio program that could provide students with scholarships that could cover up to 75 percent of their costs.
“We’re fortunate to have the right combination with NC State and the right teacher,” said Mike McDaniel, career center superintendent. “There’s not a program like this anywhere else in the country and that’s pretty amazing.”
In other business at its October meeting, the career center board of education:
- Authorized a contract with CompManagement Inc. to provide workers compensation services under the retro-rated program. Paullin said the school did not qualify this year for regular discounts because of a major injury to one employee last year. The change will reduce the school’s premium discount down to 30 percent and cost an additional $17,000 to $18,000 over last year.
- Unanimously approved a resolution opposing expansion of private school vouchers, noting that the proposal would take dollars from the already financially beleaguered local public school districts and result in less recourse for the remaining students.
- Authorized the superintendent, treasurer and principal to evaluate bids received earlier for video conferencing equipment for the newly remodeled career center group room, determine the lowest responsible bid and award a contract. The action was delayed until the school upgraded Internet connections.
Published: October 27, 2011
