New board approves final land acquisition
details
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The new-look Ball-Chatham Board of Education got right to work Monday night, with several
pressing items on the agenda.
The board formally approved the purchase of 145.68 acres of ground adjacent to the current
Glenwood High School. The property lies within both Ball and Chatham Townships. The total
purchase price is $3.642 million.
The district has put $50,000 down in escrow, with the balance to be paid in two lump sums. The
district will close on 115 acres Oct. 1, 2009, with a payment of $2.875 million, with the final $782,340
and 30 acres to be closed on July 11, 2010.
The district plans to build a new 500-student elementary school on the property, with construction
starting possibly later this year, after the first closing date and after the crops are harvested.
In the meantime, district officials will be allowed to conduct needed soil sample testing at the area
where the new school will be located (directly west of GHS) before crops are planted for the summer.
•With the total price for the new elementary school ($12.342 million) and the land purchase being
paid for out of district reserves, Supt. Bob Gillum gave the board an updated on finances.
Transfers of $11 million from the Education Fund and $4 million from the Working Cash Fund will
be made to the Capital Projects Fund. Future smaller transfers from the Working Cash Fund should
cover the rest of the project.
The district had a fund balance of $21.9 million in the Education Fund in 2008, and that will dip to
$11 million at the end of fiscal year 2009. Projections have it dropping to $9.5 million and $7 million
in the coming two years, but those projections are based on no changes to current revenue streams,
Gillum cautioned.
Also, Gillum informed the board of how the current economic conditions are affecting Ball-
Chatham. The current fiscal year budget will have about $1.5 million less revenue than anticipated,
mostly due to state payments that are behind to the tune of $1.17 million.
Also, any state monies received in April and May this year come with strings attached, Gillum
added, since they are part of federal stimulus packages. They can only be used for salaries and
benefits, he said.
Also, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has seen its biggest change in a generation, falling five
percent from last year, with a 0.1 percent increase. The district had anticipated a 4.1 percent
increase, with historically the number being at three percent per year. New growth assumptions also
came in well under anticipated levels, and interest income was down.
Assumptions for fiscal year 2010 have been adjusted, Gillum added.
To make up for the revenue shortfalls, the district has been monitoring expenses closely, and
pushing back some projects back to the next fiscal year. Gillum said district officials have been on top
of the situation for several months and have had time to make some needed adjustments.
•Janet Bambrick has been hired as the District's Special Education Director. She will begin her
employment July 1, 2009, with a first-year salary of $100,000.
In the first year, Bambrick will aid the district's transition efforts, as Ball-Chatham has one year left
with SASED before dropping out of that special education co-op in the summer of 2010.
Bambrick has previously served as Assistant Director in the Blackhawk Area Special Education
District in the Quad Cities.
•The board approved the final calendar for the 2008-09 school year. Two emergency days have
been used, and if no more are needed, May 27 will be a Teacher Institute Day, with Report Card Day
set for Thursday, May 28.
•The board approved two construction projects, one for the Chatham Elementary bus drive and the
other for GMS North Gym roof replacement. Both of those projects will be completed this summer.
More information about those projects and other news from Monday's school board meeting will be
included in next week's Clarion.
details
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The new-look Ball-Chatham Board of Education got right to work Monday night, with several
pressing items on the agenda.
The board formally approved the purchase of 145.68 acres of ground adjacent to the current
Glenwood High School. The property lies within both Ball and Chatham Townships. The total
purchase price is $3.642 million.
The district has put $50,000 down in escrow, with the balance to be paid in two lump sums. The
district will close on 115 acres Oct. 1, 2009, with a payment of $2.875 million, with the final $782,340
and 30 acres to be closed on July 11, 2010.
The district plans to build a new 500-student elementary school on the property, with construction
starting possibly later this year, after the first closing date and after the crops are harvested.
In the meantime, district officials will be allowed to conduct needed soil sample testing at the area
where the new school will be located (directly west of GHS) before crops are planted for the summer.
•With the total price for the new elementary school ($12.342 million) and the land purchase being
paid for out of district reserves, Supt. Bob Gillum gave the board an updated on finances.
Transfers of $11 million from the Education Fund and $4 million from the Working Cash Fund will
be made to the Capital Projects Fund. Future smaller transfers from the Working Cash Fund should
cover the rest of the project.
The district had a fund balance of $21.9 million in the Education Fund in 2008, and that will dip to
$11 million at the end of fiscal year 2009. Projections have it dropping to $9.5 million and $7 million
in the coming two years, but those projections are based on no changes to current revenue streams,
Gillum cautioned.
Also, Gillum informed the board of how the current economic conditions are affecting Ball-
Chatham. The current fiscal year budget will have about $1.5 million less revenue than anticipated,
mostly due to state payments that are behind to the tune of $1.17 million.
Also, any state monies received in April and May this year come with strings attached, Gillum
added, since they are part of federal stimulus packages. They can only be used for salaries and
benefits, he said.
Also, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has seen its biggest change in a generation, falling five
percent from last year, with a 0.1 percent increase. The district had anticipated a 4.1 percent
increase, with historically the number being at three percent per year. New growth assumptions also
came in well under anticipated levels, and interest income was down.
Assumptions for fiscal year 2010 have been adjusted, Gillum added.
To make up for the revenue shortfalls, the district has been monitoring expenses closely, and
pushing back some projects back to the next fiscal year. Gillum said district officials have been on top
of the situation for several months and have had time to make some needed adjustments.
•Janet Bambrick has been hired as the District's Special Education Director. She will begin her
employment July 1, 2009, with a first-year salary of $100,000.
In the first year, Bambrick will aid the district's transition efforts, as Ball-Chatham has one year left
with SASED before dropping out of that special education co-op in the summer of 2010.
Bambrick has previously served as Assistant Director in the Blackhawk Area Special Education
District in the Quad Cities.
•The board approved the final calendar for the 2008-09 school year. Two emergency days have
been used, and if no more are needed, May 27 will be a Teacher Institute Day, with Report Card Day
set for Thursday, May 28.
•The board approved two construction projects, one for the Chatham Elementary bus drive and the
other for GMS North Gym roof replacement. Both of those projects will be completed this summer.
More information about those projects and other news from Monday's school board meeting will be
included in next week's Clarion.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: April 30, 2009