The first day of school is still more than a month away, but the start of the 2024-2025 calendar starts Monday, July 1. This week the Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education closed the books on 2023-2024. The board approved year-end budget transfers and expenditures during a special meeting Wednesday morning at the District Education Center.
Superintendent Khris Thexton provided budget information to close out the 2023-2024 year.
“We like to prepay as many expenses for the 2024-2025 school year as possible,” Thexton said. Prepaid expenses include:
• Property and Liability Insurance: $469,701
• Student Accident Insurance: $25,357
• Workers Compensation Policy: $105,872
• Copy Paper: $27,240
Some items were already approved and transferred as required by statute, Thexton continued. After reviewing general fund transfers and supplemental fund transfers previously approved with the adoption of the 2023-2024 budget, the board approved additional transfers to complete the 2023-2024 budget. The transfers restore the special funds spent during the year. This practice keeps USD 428’s cash reserves stable in special funds to help the district through difficult financial times.
Currently, the rough estimate balances for general fund and supplemental general are $843,775 and $385,833, he said, adding it is difficult to build a budget and estimate an ending balance when the budget is set before enrollment is verified by the Kansas State Department of Education.
General fund transfers
Virtual Education, $2,708
Special Education, $200,000
Textbooks/Curriculum, $40,000
Health Care Reserve, $500,000
Supplemental general fund transfers
K-12 At-Risk, $58,673
Textbooks/Curriculum, $250,000
Professional Development, $125,000
Virtual education
“Virtual education is new (to the district),” Thexton said. In May of 2023, the school board approved a contract to join Hutchinson-based ESSDACK and its interactive virtual school, ESSDACK Connect. Great Bend had 12 spots last year for students and plans to expand it. ESSDACK Connect offers virtual, self-paced online courses.
“The program was very successful for the first year,” Thexton said. “We’re planning on continuing that program. We were able to keep students in our district that may have gone elsewhere for virtual school.” The district keeps 60% of the per-pupil funding to pay a portion of the teachers’ salaries and ESSDACK gets the remaining 40%.
Curriculum, heath care
In looking at other budget transfers, Thexton said another big textbook adoption is coming up.
Assistant Superintendent John Popp talked about the need to bolster the health-care reserve funds. Health insurance costs are going up and the reserves allow the district employees to see a smaller increase next year than they would if the entire increase is passed on. “This is a way for the board to say we’re putting more money back into our staff.”
Calendar and other business
In other business, the board approved a change to the 2024-2025 school calendar, reflecting a change in this year’s negotiated agreement with teachers.
There will be no school for students on Oct. 4 or on April 21, 2025 (the Monday after Easter). This will give students two four-day weekends. Teachers will still work the same number of days, 180, but those two dates will become teacher work days for grading and collaboration with other teachers.
• The school board approved the latest donations at Wednesday’s meeting. Michael Goss donated $2,400 to help cover expenses for students to compete at the National Speech and Debate tournament in Des Moines this month. The National Forensic League also contributed $1,085.
Lincoln Elementary School also received a $2.60 reward incentive contribution through the Casey’s Loyalty Program.
• One resignation and one new employee were approved. Lakin Heitschmidt, a special education teacher at Riley Elementary School, is leaving the district. Kristan Larsson was hired to fill the vacancy.
• The board also approved a 12-month contract to provide meals to Bright Beginning Day Care. Information about that topic appeared in the June 27 Great Bend Tribune or at this link.
