HOWARD — School finances was one of the issues discussed Wednesday at the East Knox school board meeting.
Jessi Busenburg, treasurer, reported that expenses are down, but the district is still looking at deficit spending by the end of the school year because revenues are also down. With the current information available on the new state budget she said, East Knox is looking at a $397,812 decrease in state funding next school year, in addition to the state cuts already made in previous years.
Superintendent Matt Caputo said, “There is a critical need in the district. We will continue to look at more reductions, more sacrifices and ways to increase revenues, regardless of the levy outcome.”
One way to reduce costs is to improve efficiency, and the board approved a food service consultation agreement with Kelly Stanford, effective April 14 through June 30, to look at how the cafeterias operate. Stanford will be paid through cafeteria funds.
Caputo said Stanford will conduct a complete evaluation of food service from menu planning to labor and supply costs and student participation. The plan is to go to centralized food services to make the cafeteria more self-sufficient. After Stanford completes his review, he will pass the torch to kitchen manager Brent Kasler.
