JACKSON BOARD DEVELOPS PRIORITIES FOR SCHOOL YEAR

JACKSON, Mo. -- The decision by the Jackson Board of Education to appropriate money for land acquisition last week has raised some questions by board member Mark Baker and some community members.

Baker, who has been the lone dissenter in several school board decisions since his election in April, objected to the $2 million capital projects budget approved Tuesday night for the 2000-2001 school year.

Baker said the budget included a number of good expenditures, including installation of fire alarms and other safety features in a number of buildings. However, he could not accept a $350,000 allocation to purchase land near the high school if it became available.

"One of the things I brought up is why do we want to put $350,000 in that when I think everyone is in agreement we want to have a planner come and look at the district," he said. "My thought is to hold everything until we hear from him."

The school board is considering hiring an educational planner to look at the district's buildings, growth in enrollment and programs to help develop a long-range plan for facilities.

A planner said the high school campus, with some 11 buildings, is considered a major challenge in terms of safety and practical development.

Baker said the expenditure further bothered him because the district had earlier transferred about $1.2 million from the operating fund to the capital projects fund, and the overall budget is projected to overspend income by more than $400,000.

That deficit could be cut largely if the $350,000 were not allocated, he said.

"Maybe the way this has been done is just standard procedure, but I got lost in the mix because I feel like it's a backward process," he said. "We made that transfer into the fund and that's part of the major deficit. From what I can tell it looks like we go backwards in the budget."

District Superintendent Ron Anderson said the fund transfer was made to ensure the district could keep up with routine and emergency maintenance. The land acquisition appropriation was made as part of regular planning because the high school campus, in the heart of town, is landlocked.

"The amount of money that is allocated will provide for the opportunity should something come up for sale," said Anderson. "It just gives the board the option if it comes up."

Last year, the district purchased a 2.5-acre lot for about $95,000 and two additional properties for about $65,000 each.

Board member Brent Wills said it's likely no property will be available next year, but just in case, the district needs to have money available.

"I don't even think anything will be for sale, but if it is and we don't have the money set aside, I think that's worse than allocating it and not spending the money."

Fritz Sander, a resident in the district, said he is concerned because the school board seems to be digging a financial hole for itself. He would rather see a report from a planning consultant before funds for land acquisition are spent.

"I was very surprised that the board would move money from the operating fund to capital projects for what appears to be optional at a time when the board is indicating we have shortfalls in the operating fund in the coming year, especially before a consultant would have time to finish his report," said Sander.

Anderson said the allocation won't necessarily be spent, but future planning must be a priority for the district. Should the educational consultant steer the district away from purchasing new land around the high school campus, any unused land would simply be resold.

"If you get to the point where you were going to go in a completely different direction you just dispose of any excess property," said Anderson. "I think the community really wants the district to do long-range planning. With the growth we've experienced, we need to be doing this planning on an annual basis."

Tamara Zellars Buck may be contacted at (573)335-6611, ext. 128, or by e-mail at tbuck@semissourian.com.