Almont school board keeps eye on budget and funding

Sinking Fund dwindling with ongoing projects

 

ALMONT — The Almont Community School district received good news recently, learning they are being awarded grant money to support staff and programs at the school.

In a statement to the school board, Supt. Kim VonHiltmayer stated, “I shared at the Feb. 19th Work Session, we have some exciting news! Almont Community Schools has secured additional 31aa funding for the 2024-25 school year.”

Supt. VonHiltmayer went on to add, “The 31aa grant in Michigan provides funding to school districts to support students’ academic growth and well-being through evidence-based programs and interventions. It focuses on addressing learning loss, improving literacy and math proficiency, and expanding student support services, particularly for at-risk populations. Schools can use the funds for initiatives such as tutoring, mental health services, and extended learning opportunities to enhance student success.”

Supt. VonHiltmayer said the 31aa grant has allowed the district to hire Mr. Steve Shifflett as their K-12 Director of Student Success.

Mr. Shifflett, a former interim high school principal for the district, made a presentation at the work session and shared how his role allows him to make a positive impact on student efforts, motivation, and achievement.

VonHiltmayer assured the board she will continue to work with the Administrator of Finance to solidify budgetary numbers to present to the Board of Education at the next Work Session so they can post for positions (through 31aa funds) as soon as possible.

“I am working with Kathy Merrifield (our Admin. of Finance) to solidify budgetary numbers to make recommendations for administrative positions and/or support positions throughout our district,” she reported to the board.

Further details were to be shared during the board’s March 18th work session.

In other Board news, Supt. VonHiltmayer said the board is working hard on budget matters, keeping an eye on the district’s slim fund balance.

Currently at approximately 10% fund equity, VonHiltmayer said ideally, “it would be closer to 13 to 15 percent, but we are alright currently. The board does a great job with making the funds we have work for the district. I am very proud of the work the board has done to keep us going in the right direction.”

The superintendent said the board’s goal is to never go below the 10 percent mark with the district’s fund equity.

“I think at some point here, we are going to be at a tough place, making some hard decisions,” she said.

“Anything we can do to offset things, by getting grants that are available, will only help us. We want to show that we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” she added.

The Supt. said the failure of the Sinking Fund millage request, “was a bit of a hit for us, by not seeing that millage passed. We are looking at spending every penny of what we have in that fund here shortly, and we are going to need to do something. In the next six months you’ll see a diminished balance of that Sinking Fund.”

The superintendent said the board needs to, “have discussion about a track project that is going to be expensive. We have other projects currently going on and more coming. We are trying to do as much as can with what we have. That’s what the taxpayers asked us to do with the sinking fund.”

Speaking on future financial needs within the district, VonHiltmayer admitted, “At some point in the future, we are going to have to go back to the taxpayers and seek a sinking fund or bond proposal. We just have to. There’s no way around it. We need several priority items, like energy efficient, safety windows in our classrooms and they are not cheap.”

In looking at future needs that persist within the district, despite three failed millage requests in 2024, the Superintendent says ultimately, “I’d like to do another community survey — to see what the community pulse is and how we should proceed with making our needs known to the community and how to proceed. Something has to be done.”

Last school year, at numerous board meetings, the board was encouraged by community members to spend Sinking Fund dollars, as opposed to leaving the funds sitting in the bank. Supt. Vonhiltmayer says the fund is now down to around approximately $300,000.

“The board chose to spend around $600,000 of that money on badly needed projects,” she said, “and, if we do something with our track situation, it will diminish that fund even more. We’ll be taking a look at how best to proceed.”