Friday, October 31, 2003
The school board will interview a candidate for superintendent.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The five-year financial forecast for the city board of education projects that the school district will be in the black for the first four years, but will face a deficit of more than $3.5 million in the final year.
The district, which is projected to spend about $104.2 million this fiscal year, will be in the black by about $12.6 million as this fiscal year ends June 30, 2004, according to the forecast.
The district will then be in the black by nearly $10.2 million in fiscal 2005; nearly $7.5 million in fiscal 2006; and about $3 million in fiscal 2007, before it enters the deficit year in fiscal 2008, according to the forecast presented to the board Tuesday by its treasurer, Carolyn Funk.
"Revenue growth is not sufficient to meet expenditure growth," Funk said, explaining the projected deficit in the fifth year. However, through fiscal year 2007, Funk said, "We should be able to maintain a stable educational program in the district."
The forecast is "predicated largely on the notion that, with a declining enrollment, we will have to pursue a declining staff as well," she said.
Documents approved
The board also approved architectural design documents for the $26 million, 1,200-student East High School to be built at Parker Street and Bennington Avenue, but requested that the architects, Ricciuti Balog & amp; Partners, study adding suspended ceilings to the classrooms, rather than having exposed metal ceilings and beams.
The board also asked the architects to study possible relocation of a column in the center of the entrance area and improved pedestrian traffic flow in the science labs. The extra study won't delay the scheduled opening of the building in the fall of 2005, said Harry Evans, director of maintenance and operations. Ground was broken for the building Oct. 13.
Evans and Donna Smaldino, director of food service, gave the board a slide presentation on the food court at Sharon (Pa.) High School, a design that is planned for cafeterias at Chaney High School and the new East High School as a faster service alternative to traditional cafeteria lines.
The board will go into executive session at 11:30 a.m. Friday to interview a district staff member who is interested in succeeding Superintendent Benjamin McGee, who will retire next summer. Gerri Sullivan, board vice president, declined to identify the person to be interviewed.