R-2 BOARD GETS OPTIONS ON DISTRICT FINANCES

JACKSON -- The Jackson R-2 Board of Education received the first of a series of informational reports from the administration listing options to improve the district's tight financial condition during the 1991-92 school year.

The rest of the options and their impact on the district will be presented to the board on April 9 and 23 meetings. The board will receive a list of revenue generating measures for their consideration at its April 23 meeting.

The board also adopted an end-of-school-year calendar for the high school baccalaureate and commencement.

The informational report presented by business manager Howard Alexander lists four options that would save nearly $100,000 in the district's general fund. Only one of the options would have even a minimal impact on students, curriculum, faculty and staff, the report said.

An option to limit lighting and encourage energy conservation would reduce spending by 10 percent and result in an estimated savings of $10,500 in savings.

Adoption of a district maxium/minimum temperature control for all buildings would result in estimated savings of $8,500.

The report said by extending the bus trade year to 10 years, the district would realize an estimated $25,000 in savings in the general fund.

The final option, reducing by 10 percent all material/supply budgets in the district, would result in cost savings of $46,500. It would have some impact on students, curriculum, faculty, and staff, the report noted.

While the four options presented Tuesday night would have a minimal impact on students, faculty and staff, Superintendent Wayne Maupin said some of the other options that will be presented to the board between now and the end of May will have a major impact, and some might not be popular with district employees.

Because of reduced state funding for elementary education, district must come up with $300,000 in the new budget to meet the staff payroll next year.

The board set the high school baccalaureate for Sunday, May 19, at 8 p.m., in the high school gym.

Weather permitting, the high school commencement will be held on Friday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m., in the high school stadium. In case of rain, it will be held in the gym.

The final day of school will be Friday, May 31.

Missouri Mastery Achievement Testing (MMAT) for students in the district will begin next month. The testing will last about 8 days. Students in grades 2-6 will start testing April 3. Students in grades 7-10 begin their MMAT testing April 2.