“So, we do need to look at certain things this year and then also looking ahead for next year and the following, because this is obviously something that the district isn’t going to be able to resolve just in the next few months,” says Stacy Ann Sipes, president of the Potterville Public Faculties Board of Training. “This is going to be something that the district is going to continue to work on the next couple years.”
(File/WLNS)
Sipes says the deficit is mixture of overspending on the finances and an error in budgeting found in fall of 2024. That error counted a $450,000 grant twice within the finances, and resulted in a 15% finances lower throughout the board in 2024. In June 2024, when the Board reviewed the ultimate finances evaluation, Sipes says, it believed it could solely should borrow $94,000 from the district’s common fund. The audit revealed the finances was greater than $700,000 within the gap.
On Aug. 20, district officers positioned Potterville Public Faculties Enterprise Supervisor Monica Baker on paid administrative depart. Sipes says the district obtained a letter of resignation from her within the final 24 hours. Her resignation turns into efficient Dec. 31, 2024.
Sipes harassed that Baker had no function in making ready the 2024-2025 finances which has such a major monetary gap in it.
Sipes says Baker and the District didn’t signal any non-disclosure agreements or separation agreements and there was no payout for Baker.
Along with the actions by the administration and the Board, Eaton County Sheriff Division officers proceed to pursue a number of investigations. Sipes declined to touch upon the investigations, solely confirming these investigations are ongoing.
Shifting ahead, the District might be reviewing the place within the finances objects could be lower to scale back the deficit. She says the District is concentrated on preserving class sizes small, even because it noticed a rise within the variety of college students this tutorial 12 months. A rise in enrollment may even assist stem a few of the finances disaster as a result of Michigan offers some funding for colleges primarily based on a per pupil cost.
“The focus from our Interim Superintendent Sam Sinicropi is to look at all the ways that we can make cuts that are not impacting our day-to-day operations, obviously not impacting any sort of education or our students. And also being mindful of our staff,” Sipes says.
The district is reviewing many cost-saving measures, she says.
“So, there may be things that as some of our staff retire and we’re — we hire through attrition, we’ll hire staff who come in at a lower rate,” she says. “There may be staff who retire that we might not replace. Depending. Especially making sure that we’re not impacting classroom size is really important. So –and there are things, you know, as our enrollment continues to increase because there are so many great things happening in the district. Those things would positively impact the budget as well.”
