Board numbers don’t add up

 Dear Editor:

As we prepare for the upcoming school elections, here is a story that I would like to share.  In an article from the Red Oak Express dated April 8, 2014, it was reported that the Red Oak Board of Directors approved $740,000 in staffing reductions to keep the school district fiscally sound.  Earlier this year, having doubts about the figures, I checked numbers with the school district. Based on the data verified by the central office, it would seem that our school board missed the $740,000 goal by $415,000.  

To make matters worse, the school district reported out to the DE that this past school year, the district lost 37.5 students.  Each student lost represents roughly $6,000. Doing the math, the district could suffer a loss of $225,000 towards the general fund.   

As a taxpayer who has attended meetings of the school board, I knew that things weren’t adding up towards the goal.  As a result, I asked the board for answers via emails and phone calls with the board president, Mr. Lee Fellers.  In an email sent on Monday, April 27 of this year, I requested that the issue of the $740,000 budget cuts be placed on the agenda. Mr. Fellers has not been forthcoming with any answers regarding the agenda item.

It is now August 2015 and as I go to the polls in September, I will be considering who will be the best candidate in terms of transparency and approachability. The board published packets this past May stating that they will be saving at least $300,000, if not more.  So how do we know those budget cuts will happen for the 2015-16 school year if we don´t know that they happened for the 2014-15 school year? Our school district needs proactive leaders who will be responsive to the taxpayers and responsible to the students. 

Educationally,

Jedd Sherman