By DEB WUETHRICH

 The Tecumseh Public School Board of Education approved a resolution on Monday night to establish the 2008 School Bond General Obligation Limited Tax Debt Retirement Fund and the 2008 Capital Projects Fund. The actions were a next step following an earlier adoption of an Energy Bond resolution that provided authority to issue bonds in the amount of $1,578,000, not to exceed $1,600,000 for some necessary district maintenance projects.

Tecumseh Schools Business Manager Bill Wright said that establishment of the funds allows the district to pay off the debt for capital projects and to record expenses for the projects that are to be funded by the energy bond, which includes work on school roofs and boilers, a water pipe repair and a few other items. The board also passed a resolution to indicate the intention to reimburse the capital projects fund in the amount of $10,000 for design fees for the energy related projects to Dailey Engineering, from proceeds from the pending sale of energy bonds.

“These projects using the Energy Bond were absolutely necessary,” said board member Gary Urban, who said he wanted to remind people that this work comprises some urgent projects that had been included on the failed May 6 bond proposals. “These are just the basic stuff that had to get done. This was our only option, to go in this direction,” he said. “I just want to remind people it’s not like these were something that we had the money for anyway.” He said if the district doesn’t do these projects, there would be risk of buildings having to shut down.

Board president Debbie Johnson-Burges said the difference is that the Energy Bond must be paid out of the district’s operating fund. “For the next 20 years or so we’re still going to have to pinch pennies and find the money,” she said.

The board also adopted a resolution to enable Tecumseh Public Schools to borrow the necessary funds from the School Loan Revolving Fund, if necessary, in order to pay its bills this fall. State aid payments do not arrive until mid-October. Wright said there is concern for the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget as the non-homestead taxable value with the district has declined by over $30 million to $128,669,134, mainly due to the implementation of the Michigan Business Tax, property tax tribunals and foreclosures. The adoption allows the district to borrow from the School Loan Revolving Fund if it becomes necessary, although last year it did not have to do so. Wright said steps are being taken to study the district’s financial situation to see what can be done to get the district “out of the borrowing business” over the long-term.

Wright also informed the board that the district would receive an additional $112 per student with the State Aid Act that he believes now is in place at the state level. The figure would increase Tecumseh’s per pupil foundation allowance to $7316.
“If the projected enrollment of 3,205 students holds, we would pick up an additional $38,000,” said Wright. He said whether those numbers can be maintained remains to be seen, however. Many students are leaving Michigan with their families to find better jobs elsewhere.

In other business, the school board members:
• Were introduced to: Robin Francis, who will fill the Herrick Park Principal position recently vacated by Gloria Bortnichak. Francis also will serve as Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for the district. She has taught nine years at the school. And, Greg Lewis, who is the new Assistant Principal at Tecumseh Middle School, replacing James Gilmore. Lewis also served as Assistant Principal from 1996-1999.
• Heard suggestions from Robin Kintner, Tecumseh parent of three school-aged children, who expressed concerns about elementary teacher layoffs and wanted to be reassured that class sizes would not increase at that level. Kintner shared research and information, with suggestions including bus consolidation possibilities if the district were to add 15 minutes per day and eliminate ? days from the schedule. Superintendent Mike McAran said the district tried the 15 minute additions in prior years, which did include some savings, and received many complaints from parents and teachers that it made for too long a day, so went back to less. He said some of the ? days were, indeed, being negotiated, so that there could be savings in areas such as fuel costs for fewer bus runs.
• Recognized Tecumseh High School’s Cross Country teams, both girls’ and boys’, with this year being the first time in the district’s history that both teams made it to state competition. The girls placed 20th of 148 schools at State, and the boys placed 23rd of 148.
• Approved textbook purchases for $142,444.35, replacing some 5th and 6th grade textbooks, and several high school level textbooks. The books should arrive just prior to the start of the school year, McAran said.
• Heard a report from the Facilities and Grounds Committee through Vice-President Dan Gunder, who said study continues on what can be done about the deteriorating track and how to finance it, since the district wants it to be safe for competition. A parent in the audience noted that several of the young athletes who use the track receive physical therapy, with some therapists believing the hard surface is partly to blame for the injuries.
• Accepted a gift for $250 from Promedica, which would help fund a special rewards project to families who participated in the “Building a Healthy Future” educational series last school year toward tickets to Toledo Mud Hens games.