Closing Ablany Elementary could save Kutztown School District $307,353, according to a budget report.

District Business Administrator Karl Olschesky, board treasurer, presented on Tuesday night a proposed budget report, including cost savings if Albany were to close.

The Preliminary Budget Revenues currently stand at $28,027,062 with expenses at $28,395,393, leaving a deficit of $368,331.

Savings for closing Albany include a one-time savings of $25,000 for the cancelation of replacing the computer lab,

$2,000 savings for canceling the wide area network,

$254,950 savings for the net cost of salary and benefit charges,

$28,703 savings for utilities,

$7,200 savings for not needing to rent copiers,

$15,000 savings in repairs,

and a cost of $25,500 for the reduction of debt service subsidy. Continued...

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Olschesky presented the total possible savings for closing Albany would be $307,353.

Other savings include $7,000 for requiring students pay for AP exams. Also, state revenues were greater than what was anticipated in the preliminary budget with an additional $40,079 in state funding. He also noted a cost of $16,436 in the net cost of other salary and benefit charges. Combined, this would mean a savings of $30,643.

Also, savings pending retirements is $73,798.

Total potential savings, according to Olschesky’s report, would be $411,794, with a projected surplus savings of $43,463, if Albany were to close.

Space constraints from closing Albany would require fifth grade to move to the middle school where there are currently seven empty classrooms. Greenwich and Kutztown elementary schools would each house kindergarten through fourth grade.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on March 6, in the auditorium of the Kutztown High School.

“This is an informational evening with what we hope will be parent input to guide us in our direction for balancing the 2012-13 budget,” said Superintendent Nicholas Lazo Jr.

Anyone who would like to speak at this hearing, contact Rikki Clark in the District Administration Office at 610-683-7361, ext. 106 or rclark@kasd.org.

Also during Tuesday night’s School Board meeting, board member James Shrawder motioned to solicit proposals for a company to conduct a cost audit for the district, comparing Kutztown to other similar districts, someone who has no connection to the district. Shrawder said the report could help the district determine how to run more efficiently to be able to have the funds for things that do matter.

Amy Faust agreed that it would be interesting to see an outside perspective. Continued...

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Board President Carl Ziegler was concerned that it would not be practical to expect the report to be in on time to impact the current budget process. The board must approve the budget by June.

Shrawder feels it is important to have the report for the current budget.

The board approved the motion, 5-3. Pat Bealer, Randy Burch and Al Darion voted no. Craig Schroeder was absent.

In other news, the board approved the adoption of a real estate tax installment resolution, allowing payment of real estate taxes on an installment basis. This would be available to all parcels, said Lazo.

“In these hard times, I think it’s great to give people this option,” said Faust.

Also, the board approved the Berks County Intermediate Unit mandated services budget for 2012-13 at an approximate cost to Kutztown School District of $25,156.32, which is a zero percent increase.

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• See Full Story

Closing Ablany Elementary could save Kutztown School District $307,353, according to a budget report.

District Business Administrator Karl Olschesky, board treasurer, presented on Tuesday night a proposed budget report, including cost savings if Albany were to close.

The Preliminary Budget Revenues currently stand at $28,027,062 with expenses at $28,395,393, leaving a deficit of $368,331.

Savings for closing Albany include a one-time savings of $25,000 for the cancelation of replacing the computer lab,

$2,000 savings for canceling the wide area network,

$254,950 savings for the net cost of salary and benefit charges,

$28,703 savings for utilities,

$7,200 savings for not needing to rent copiers,

$15,000 savings in repairs,

and a cost of $25,500 for the reduction of debt service subsidy.

Olschesky presented the total possible savings for closing Albany would be $307,353.

Other savings include $7,000 for requiring students pay for AP exams. Also, state revenues were greater than what was anticipated in the preliminary budget with an additional $40,079 in state funding. He also noted a cost of $16,436 in the net cost of other salary and benefit charges. Combined, this would mean a savings of $30,643.

Also, savings pending retirements is $73,798.

Total potential savings, according to Olschesky’s report, would be $411,794, with a projected surplus savings of $43,463, if Albany were to close.

Space constraints from closing Albany would require fifth grade to move to the middle school where there are currently seven empty classrooms. Greenwich and Kutztown elementary schools would each house kindergarten through fourth grade.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on March 6, in the auditorium of the Kutztown High School.

“This is an informational evening with what we hope will be parent input to guide us in our direction for balancing the 2012-13 budget,” said Superintendent Nicholas Lazo Jr.

Anyone who would like to speak at this hearing, contact Rikki Clark in the District Administration Office at 610-683-7361, ext. 106 or rclark@kasd.org.

Also during Tuesday night’s School Board meeting, board member James Shrawder motioned to solicit proposals for a company to conduct a cost audit for the district, comparing Kutztown to other similar districts, someone who has no connection to the district. Shrawder said the report could help the district determine how to run more efficiently to be able to have the funds for things that do matter.

Amy Faust agreed that it would be interesting to see an outside perspective.

Board President Carl Ziegler was concerned that it would not be practical to expect the report to be in on time to impact the current budget process. The board must approve the budget by June.

Shrawder feels it is important to have the report for the current budget.

The board approved the motion, 5-3. Pat Bealer, Randy Burch and Al Darion voted no. Craig Schroeder was absent.

In other news, the board approved the adoption of a real estate tax installment resolution, allowing payment of real estate taxes on an installment basis. This would be available to all parcels, said Lazo.

“In these hard times, I think it’s great to give people this option,” said Faust.

Also, the board approved the Berks County Intermediate Unit mandated services budget for 2012-13 at an approximate cost to Kutztown School District of $25,156.32, which is a zero percent increase.

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