WORTHINGTON -- The Worthington School Community has been very support of education and continued to value quality opportunities for the students of District 518. This was evident in the passage of the operating referendum approved in the fall of 2006. Of course, a number of years ago this was called the excess operating referendum, in which the intent was to address additional educational needs, rather than daily operational needs.
As you read in the article a few weeks ago by the Globe, the district has been looking at future budget projections and trying to plan for the next few years. Financially, the district is sound with a solid fund balance to help support future budget concerns, even though the district will need to begin looking at potential reductions starting with the 2009-2010 school year.
So, where does the money come from and where does it go? Currently, approximately 73.5 percent of the funds are used for direct instructional support in educating students, while the state average for expenditures on instruction is 70.0 percent. As you see, we are placing an emphasis on expenses that directly impacts students. Hence, our other expenditures that support the educational environment such as administration, transportation, equipment, and so on are lower than the state average.
I will give you a few ideas as to where some of the dollars are being expended for next year out of our capital funds. The district will be spending approximately $280,000 on technology (computers, smart classrooms, software) that will assist students in their education. Also, in the area of curriculum, the district will spend approximately $180,000 in the areas of reading, music, art and guidance programs with the latter three being in the current curriculum cycle. Some of the maintenance items being addressed will be a new chiller at the middle school ($200,000), new lawn mower, security cameras and some other miscellaneous items.
The general expenditures for the district center on students and their opportunities for a quality educational experienced. In District 518, we are able to offer elective options that are not available in other districts due to the commitment and support by the Worthington school community. With your continued support, we will work to meet your high expectations for providing the students a world-class education. This is supported by our dedicated employees that not only directly work with students, but those that support the entire educational process. These costs (salaries and benefits) are approximately 85 percent of the total district expenditures in the various funds. Since we are a very labor-intensive organization, this would be an expectation for related costs. This is supported by a larger percentage of state and federal sources than local dollars as compared with other districts. At the current time, approximately 86 percent of our funds come from state and federal sources compared to the average of 79 percent for other districts that come from other sources, rather than being a local taxpayer cost. Some of this comes from grant programs or additional funding sources that the district as been able to access over the years.
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So with a total projected budget of approximately $26,000,000, the district is working extremely hard to be responsible with the dollars in order to provide the expected education for the students in the Worthington School District. We would thank you for the wonderful support in providing quality programs for the students. It is extremely important to expect a world-class education for all students in order for them to be competitive in the world they are responsible for building and helping to grow. We do have available financial information on the district Web site at www.isd518.net and would be happy to address questions concerning the district finances.
John Landgaard is District 518 superintendent. WORTHINGTON -- The Worthington School Community has been very support of education and continued to value quality opportunities for the students of District 518. This was evident in the passage of the operating referendum approved in the fall of 2006. Of course, a number of years ago this was called the excess operating referendum, in which the intent was to address additional educational needs, rather than daily operational needs.
As you read in the article a few weeks ago by the Globe, the district has been looking at future budget projections and trying to plan for the next few years. Financially, the district is sound with a solid fund balance to help support future budget concerns, even though the district will need to begin looking at potential reductions starting with the 2009-2010 school year.
So, where does the money come from and where does it go? Currently, approximately 73.5 percent of the funds are used for direct instructional support in educating students, while the state average for expenditures on instruction is 70.0 percent. As you see, we are placing an emphasis on expenses that directly impacts students. Hence, our other expenditures that support the educational environment such as administration, transportation, equipment, and so on are lower than the state average.
I will give you a few ideas as to where some of the dollars are being expended for next year out of our capital funds. The district will be spending approximately $280,000 on technology (computers, smart classrooms, software) that will assist students in their education. Also, in the area of curriculum, the district will spend approximately $180,000 in the areas of reading, music, art and guidance programs with the latter three being in the current curriculum cycle. Some of the maintenance items being addressed will be a new chiller at the middle school ($200,000), new lawn mower, security cameras and some other miscellaneous items.
The general expenditures for the district center on students and their opportunities for a quality educational experienced. In District 518, we are able to offer elective options that are not available in other districts due to the commitment and support by the Worthington school community. With your continued support, we will work to meet your high expectations for providing the students a world-class education. This is supported by our dedicated employees that not only directly work with students, but those that support the entire educational process. These costs (salaries and benefits) are approximately 85 percent of the total district expenditures in the various funds. Since we are a very labor-intensive organization, this would be an expectation for related costs. This is supported by a larger percentage of state and federal sources than local dollars as compared with other districts. At the current time, approximately 86 percent of our funds come from state and federal sources compared to the average of 79 percent for other districts that come from other sources, rather than being a local taxpayer cost. Some of this comes from grant programs or additional funding sources that the district as been able to access over the years.
So with a total projected budget of approximately $26,000,000, the district is working extremely hard to be responsible with the dollars in order to provide the expected education for the students in the Worthington School District. We would thank you for the wonderful support in providing quality programs for the students. It is extremely important to expect a world-class education for all students in order for them to be competitive in the world they are responsible for building and helping to grow. We do have available financial information on the district Web site at www.isd518.net and would be happy to address questions concerning the district finances.
John Landgaard is District 518 superintendent.
