Gilmanton Board designates destinations for unassigned fund balance, increases number of sick days for support staff

by Beth Kraft

In response to new options for unassigned fund balance recently made available to school districts, the Gilmanton School Board at its monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, took steps to divvy up some of its existing funds into the new areas.

The Board agreed to place over $73,000 into an emergency fund balance account, $50,000 into a reserve stabilization account and the remaining $825,000 in fund balance for capital needs (cash flow).

District administrator Glen Denk explained the emergency fund balance account would be tapped in the event of a catastrophic event, such as a big roof leak, boiler failure or another costly item that would need to be fixed immediately. Reserve stabilization would essentially be a “rainy day” fund for other big expenses, said Denk.

The district’s total fund balance to start the 2015-16 fiscal year was $948,774.

Also that night, Denk and the Board discussed simplifying the district’s support staff handbook when it comes to language governing sick days, vacation days and personal leave. Denk will continue to redefine and restructure terminology in the handbook to make necessary changes.

One of those changes will be the number of sick days allowed, as the Board voted that night to increase that number from eight to 10.

Also that night, it was announced that longtime Board member Marty Hallock has filed non-candidacy papers for the spring election. He and fellow incumbent Daren Bauer were up for re-election, with Bauer indicating that he plans to run again for one of the two open seats on the Board.

The deadline for those who wish to file paperwork to appear on the ballot is Jan. 5 by 5 p.m.

In other business that night, the Board approved the following:

• senior English class field trip to Rochester, Minn.

• renew administration contracts for Glen Denk and Kory Rud with terms to be negotiated later on

• 2014-15 audit reports