#superintedent

[radiolock]

[pennystwocents]

"Clean" bill of health and on the road to recovery

The old adage it will get worse before it gets better is evident at all levels of government - the nation, the state and yes, even at the local level. As we face 2012, our community knows this adage better than most.

  Just like many families, virtually every form of government has suffered tight budgets, major cuts and even deficits during the past few years. One year ago, prior to my arrival, Lincoln County R-III had cut more than six million in programs, services and jobs. Thankfully, the voters of the Lincoln County R-III District stopped the bleeding before even deeper cuts were made. Through those tough times, the parents, students, patrons and staff of the Lincoln County R-III District knew that old adage all too well.

  With revenue shortfalls looming at the state level, it was a relief to hear Governor Jay Nixon will present the legislature with level funding for K-12 classrooms. In his State of the State address last week, Nixon also addressed the need to find a solution to fund our schools fairly and predictably.  Nixon also told the audience he would add $5 million to K-12 funding this year. After the past few years, I know every school in the State of Missouri is hopeful Governor Nixon and the state legislature can achieve this goal.

  I thought I would take this time to give you, our patrons and readers, a State of the Schools. At our January Board of Education meeting, Larson Allen presented the annual audit of the school budget. According to Darrell Songer of Larson Allen, the Lincoln County R-III School District received the “cleanest” bill of audit health given. As Mr. Songer told Board of Education members, his firm works for the taxpayers of Lincoln County R-III and the Board of Education. I am proud of this report and as a taxpayer, you should be, too.

  This year’s audit was more in depth than normal due to the federal stimulus dollars. The audit also gave our management of these special federal dollars the cleanest rating the company can give a school district. Finally, the audit also found a healthy reserve of balances just below 25%. I am encouraged by this news. I feel this will allow the R-III District to plan for the future and adequately weather any future revenue shortfalls. I want to thank the voters for providing our kids, our schools and our community with that stability. I would also like to thank the Board of Education for governing taxpayer dollars wisely while planning for the future.

  I say all of this to tell you, Lincoln County R-III Schools are on the road to recovery, getting stronger and prepared for the future. And to those that are suffering. Yes, things do get worse, but don’t forget the rest of that old adage; they do get better.