West Bonner School District approved an amended budget for the 2019-2020 school year at the board of trustees meeting on April 16. Board Clerk Jennifer Anselmo will resume work on the 2020-2021 budget in late May.

Anselmo’s recommendations for covering Gov. Brad Little’s one percent cutback included lowering savings for sick leave and clearing sub dollars for the remainder of the year.

“Between those two we were able to capture the one percent decrease from the state,” Anselmo said.

In comparison to the previously adopted budget, salary funds decreased $100,000, capital improvement funds increased $114,000, debt retirement funds decreased $8,000 and an estimated $116,000 increase in food services.

Because of the decrease in breakfast and lunch sales, the school board considered cutting back meals per labor hours or closing the open campus to encourage students to eat food provided by the school.

Board Chairman Sandy Brower recalled the board “freaking out” about a $30,000 decrease in food sales roughly four years ago, which she compared to the projected $100,000 decrease.

“The free breakfast wasn’t being reported properly,” Anselmo said. “It was being reported as every single student was having breakfast whether they were or weren’t and so our revenues were much higher than they should have been. That’s when the state service came in and audited the food service program and that’s what they found. The numbers are accurate now, but it didn’t help our pocketbooks.”

Board members suggested bringing back breakfast in the classrooms, which they felt significantly effected this year’s sales. Many high schools in the district have cut the free breakfast program because revenue is only generated with high free and reduced populations.

More options will be considered at the next regular board meeting.

Other additions to the amended budget included an increase in public relations work, increase in attorney fees, additional supplies and materials, additional HVAC repairs, cleaning supplies for COVID-19, extra bus parts and a special education shortage.

Currently West Bonner School School District has 1,041 students as opposed to the estimated 943 students in the adopted budget. West Bonner School District’s substantial increase of enrollment in special education students this year has also effected budget numbers.

“We have about 183 special education students which is maybe 53 students over what we had last year and our special education IDEA funding decreased,” Anselmo said. “It continues to fund less and less people but our numbers are going up, so you saw an increase in the salaries and benefits for special services in the general fund and that was people that were not being covered by the federal dollars anymore.”

Brower questioned if their board should address Idaho legislators on this issue, however, Superintendent Paul Anselmo and Board Manager Jennifer Anselmo said this has been an ongoing problem.

“I would say all of our federal allocations are decreasing,” Jennifer Anselmo said. “They seem to give less and less every year. But as far as the special education system alone, they are aware.”

Jennifer Anselmo closed the budget discussion with an update from the state insurance fund’s Tuesday morning webinar. She said that there will be an 8.8 percent increase on the school district’s primary insurance plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield. “So that’s pretty scary, for when we are looking at cuts,” she said.

The board approved the amended budget unanimously.

Following discussion on school finances, Superintendent Paul Anselmo announced pick-up and drop-off packet dates every Friday for the high schools beginning April 17 and every other week for K-8 starting April 22. The entire district has had an over 90 percent return rate on packets.

“I just want people to know we are not closed, this is a soft closure and students are expected to turn in that work,” Brower said. “It does matter, education continues to matter.”

Pick up for personal belongings, because of the school closure extension, will be determined by each school.

In addition 56 electronic devices were handed out at the highschool and 25 for junior high for school work this week.

“It was really awesome that we put those policies in place and got those devices to those students,” Jennifer Anselmo said. “He (IT Director Ron Kruse) has been checking the content filter on those and the kids seem to be being good.”

Kruse is looking into streaming the next school board meeting on Facebook Live as well as Zoom to allow people access via phone that do not have WiFi service at home.

Board trustee Nicole Butler also took oath and attended her first official board meeting. She will also fill the Zone 5 board trustee’s spot on the Negotiations Committee.