Fort Morgan's Board of Education reorganized Monday in the wake of this year's non-election -- and received bad news regarding statewide budget cuts.

Incumbent board member Damon Mussman and newcomer George Saiter were sworn in; another incumbent, Don Kembel, was absent Monday and will be sworn in later.

With only three candidates for three four-year terms, the Nov. 3 board election had been canceled.

Mike Lee, chief financial officer for the district, and Superintendent Greg Wagers reported that an expected recission of state funding will take place on this year's budget, and the 2010-11 budget will be slashed due to statewide budget problems.

"We know our cuts are going to be substantial for the next budget year," Wagers said.

The recission for the current budget year, Lee said, will be about $430,000 for Fort Morgan, and about $110 million statewide. The local school district had already set aside that money, anticipating the recission.

For the next budget year, indications are that Fort Morgan will have its general budget cut by $1,365,000.

Statewide, the cut for kindergarten through 12th grade education is predicted at $150 million, according to

Gov. Bill Ritter's proposed budget. That budget, Wagers noted, still has to go through the state legislature.

The district is trying to keep many of its general fund expenditures for this year at 80 percent of budgeted levels, Wagers said, and is also trying to come up with other revenue. There are some potential revenue streams such as federal stimulus money.

Purchases of two buses and three other vehicles have been put off, Wagers said.

The buses that were to be replaced are still safe, and numerous buses have been replaced in the past several years, so the fleet is in good shape, he added.

The beginning fund balance for next year should be about $700,000, just about the amount that had been predicted, Lee said.

Property tax revenue is strengthening, but specific ownership tax income continues to lag, Wagers said.

The October student count used in state funding was 2,992, seven below the projection, but higher at-risk numbers mean about $200,000 in additional money, Wagers said.

Two expenditures were approved:

--$33,963 to replace a library-media management system that has been in place since 1990 and is becoming difficult to service.

--$21,585 for bus security cameras, bringing all route buses up to date.

Reorganization

All board officers were re-elected -- Mussman as president, Roger Segura as vice president and Matt Laws as treasurer. Mussman and Segura were the only candidates nominated for their offices. Laws outpolled James Graff in a secret ballot.

Officer terms are two years.

Karen Temple was reappointed as secretary to the board.

Committee assignments for the school board members also were made:

Ag education advisory council -- Kembel, with Segura as alternate.

Board of Cooperative Educational Services -- Rob Carruth, Mussman alternate.

Colorado Association of School Boards legislative network and CASB delegate -- Graff, Segura

alternate.

Accountability committee -- Mussman, Graff alternate.

High school office, technology and marketing and consumer and family studies advisory councils --

Saiter.

Insurance advisory committee -- Mussman, Kembel alternate.

Sabbatical leave committee -- Laws.

Sick leave bank committee -- Mussman.

Head Start advisory committee -- Segura, Saiter alternate.

Improvement,

progress

The board received reports from Joy Perry, assistant superintendent for curriculum and assessment, on school improvement plans and adequate yearly progress.

The district made 77 of 97 targets, or 79 percent, on adequate yearly progress -- 36 elementary, 34 middle school and 27 high school.

Statewide, 60 percent of schools and 46 percent of districts made AYP, Perry noted.

School improvement plans are focused on improving test score results, attendance and the 72.4 percent graduation rate to 85 percent.

Particular emphasis will be put on the minority graduation rate, Perry said.

Fort Morgan and Lincoln High Schools will both focus on offering more postsecondary options in classes, she said.

On the graduation rate, Fort Morgan High School is working to accommodate students who need to come in late or leave early to work, Principal Judy Florian said.

"We have a lot of students that would drop out of school if they couldn't work," she said.

Positive behavior support is another point of emphasis, Perry noted.

Other business

The board approved end-of-season employment in facilities management for Kenneth Leinweber, Walter Longacre and William Ullman.

An executive session was held on the procedure for Wagers' annual evaluation; no action was reported.

In other matters:

--Wagers reported that Colleen Heinz, elementary music teacher, is leaving for a post with the Colorado Education Association.

--Wagers commended staff members on their work to open an overnight Red Cross shelter at Fort Morgan High School during a recent snowstorm. More than 90 stranded travelers stayed there overnight.

--A strategic planning initiative is under way, and meetings to get public input are slated Friday at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the school support center at West Platte Avenue and West Street.

--Board members will deliver gifts to staff this week in observance of American Education Week.

--The district has paid $5,000 to the American Legion for baseball field work.

--The board approved a trip for about 20 students next May to Close Up for New Americans.

--The board noted four student delegates and two alternates from Fort Morgan High School selected to go to the Colorado Association of School Boards annual convention in Colorado Springs Dec. 3-6.

--Disposal of obsolete technology equipment was approved.

-- Contact John La Porte at news@fmtimes.com.