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Letter to Editor: School financials mis-represented in Butler county

North Butler Middle School in Greene (facebook.com photo)
North Butler Middle School in Greene
(facebook.com photo)

To the editor:

I would like to inform the taxpayers of the North Butler school district. School officials misrepresented school financials and have overspent for at least the last three years. The incoming revenue was overestimated by more than $450,000 in 2012. The district has continued to overspend since, and unfortunately our cash reserves are depleted. How does this happen? As stated by Mr. Foster: “The auditor explained to us several weeks ago that they had told the previous superintendent that the previous business manager was not qualified to do the job that he was expecting and asking her to do.  The board asked for items in the past and would not receive them, or the information would not be accurate.”  The school board had a judiciary responsibility to uphold.   When important information was not received, do not move forward. Action should be taken immediately.

A quote from the Iowa Association of School Boards Code of Ethics, “I will not regard the schools as my own private property, but as the property of the people. I will consider myself a trustee of public education and will do my best to protect it, conserve it and advance it, giving to the children of my community the educational opportunities that are as complete and adequate.”

Our community spent hundreds of hours researching North Butler’s issues to find the facts. One fact: additional positions were added totaling over $75,000 following a year with a KNOWN negative balance. Salaries were not paid on time resulting in a much larger deficit in 2013-14. With correct accounting, the negative unspent balance could have been ZERO!!! Now, school officials chose to discontinue North Butler’s 3-year old preschool and close the North Butler Greene Elementary School.

Research shows that high quality preschool programs DO make a difference for ALL children regardless of income. Without preschool, incoming children do not have the skills that are needed for success.   Parents may choose to begin their child’s education elsewhere. What if those children stay at the other districts that provide earlier opportunities for learning? The community group again produced FACTS through a survey. Families with 27 children stated they may leave North Butler school district with implementation of the accepted corrective action plan. Some may not actually leave, but others that may not have answered the survey could. This decrease in enrollment will cost our school at least $162,000. The community DID the research.

Let’s take a look at the corrective action Plan1 vs.Plan2. Plan 1 stated savings for 3 year old preschool $15,000. Plan2 stated savings of $63,357. Then words from the superintendent; the savings were UNKNOWN at time of plan creation. How can we approve a plan when the figures are unknown? What other figures could be erroneous? This is not responsible management of our tax dollars.

The community provided an action plan looking for a way to maintain the excellent education we currently provide. The plan DID NOT cut 3- year old preschool and DID NOT close the School. The community’s plan had savings of over $350,000. No irreversible decisions need to be made. The FACTS are unknown. There is NO PLAN on how to make this “New Opportunity” work. School officials say they will offer more programs to middle school and high school students. I say tell me exactly what, when, and how?? Show us a detailed report explaining our districts future.

How can the school officials ignore the community’s requests? Why is hostility felt at school board meetings? Aren’t we all on the same side? Without the community’s support, THERE IS NO SCHOOL!

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