The School Board Thursday heard a report on budget challenges for the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education, which provides special education services for Baldwin, Eudora and Wellsville school districts.
Lee Hanson and Sara Hoepner, director and assistant director of the cooperative, presented to the board.
The cooperative is anticipating a budget shortfall by the end of fiscal year 2025 this summer. Hanson said they were looking at ways to decrease expenses. She presented a 7% increase to costs for each district during this year, which would add $88,000 to Eudora’s bill. That would be followed by a 20% increase in fiscal year 2026.
Superintendent Stu Moeckel and the board praised Lee and the cooperative for their work on the plan. Moeckel said the budget challenge was “a dumpster fire that Lee was handed” and not the fault of her or the cooperative. He said the current cost estimates were a worst case scenario and they hope it goes down.
“When we talk about board priorities, the reasons you have reserves are for reasons like this,” Moeckel said. “…We will find a way to make this $88,000 payment to them.”
Board Vice President Joe Hurla clarified with Moeckel that a failure to fund the cooperative would end the support for the district’s special education needs.
In other business, the board unanimously voted to make Mark Chrislip president and Joe Hurla vice president for 2025.
Sean Gordon of Gordon CPA, which performed a fiscal year 2024 audit of the district, presented to the board. He said the district received the highest marks it could for its financial statements.
Moeckel talked with the board about a new state report with guidance and recommendations for school district cellphone policies. The board had begun discussions on a cellphone policy in the fall. He said he wanted to communicate with high school teachers and staff to help craft a policy to be presented for board consideration.
Chrislip asked how the district could also seek parental involvement. Moeckel said they could consider options, including a parent survey.
Moeckel also gave an update on ongoing construction. He shared photos of work progressing on the new fitness center and auxiliary gym. He said the goal was to start placing wood for the gym floor by the end of this week.
In other business, the board voted to approve changes to its relationship with the Eudora Schools Foundation.
The proposal outlined the need for more resources to retain foundation Director Shanda Hurla and provide long-term sustainability for the organization. This includes increasing the annual contribution for the foundation’s operation costs and transforming her position to a district employee with district benefits, with the salary reimbursed by the foundation.
The executive director position is now an independent contractor without benefits, yet a committee found it’s common for school foundation staff to be district employees and receive a district benefits package.
A report said the foundation’s total revenue has almost doubled in the past six years from $122,000 to $241,000 due to the work of the staff to support the school district.
The board approved Thursday increasing its annual Eudora Schools Foundation contribution for operation costs from $15,000 to $30,000 and making the executive director position a district employee. Hurla will report to both Moeckel and the Eudora Schools Foundation board.
The board also voted unanimously to approve hiring Amanda Brunkow as the district human resources director effective July 1. Current HR Director Amy Shanks is retiring in August.
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
