Yankton School District (YSD) board members discussed the preliminary 2013-14 school budget at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

The preliminary 2013-14 general fund budget is $15,586,494, before the utilization of health insurance reserves. However, the projected operating revenue for the district is $14,436,309, adding to a deficit of more than $1.1 million.

“By law, the superintendent and business manager (Jason Bietz) need to present a budget to the school board at this meeting,” said YSD superintendent Joe Gertsema. “However, it is not required that a line-item budget like this be presented — it simply has to be a basic budget.”

He noted that this year, the state Legislature approved an increase in two levies, and a decrease in another, which is impacting where YSD’s budget stands.

In addition, board members are also continuing to utilize health care insurance reserves in order to balance the budget.

“Right now this budget projects a 2.25 percent increase in salaries and benefits for employees,” Gertsema said. “However, because negotiations are ongoing, that could change.”

The preliminary budget also calls for $200,000 in utility costs to be paid for by the capital outlay fund, which also helps officials manage the budget deficit.

“One thing that is still up in the air is the funding that we will get from the federal government,” Gertsema said. “They have had to cut some education funding due to the sequester.”

He added that, at worst, YSD will be faced with a budget deficit of around $1,153,000 for the 2013-14 year.

The board will hold its next budget hearing at the July 8 meeting.

Also at the meeting, board members approved changes to the YHS and YMS handbooks.

YHS Principal Kindle said the changes needed in the high school handbook were just clarifying policies and some basic language changing.

Todd Dvoracek, YMS principal, said the middle school handbook needed changes with regards to the homework policy, bullying and information about school drills.

“We changed some information on bullying to give students and parents more information about how YMS is dealing with the issue,” he said. “We also updated the homework policy to require all students to turn in their homework, not simply to not turn it in and receive a ‘zero’ for the assignment.”

Dvoracek also spoke to board members about changing the names of two courses offered at the middle school.

The change will re-name the family and consumer science and technical education courses to “lifetime career explorations” and “technical career explorations”.

“We will continue to give students what we’re giving, but the change will help courses when we bring in new information,” Dvoracek said. “It also gives us some more flexibility with who we can hire to teach both classes.”

Board members also approved a change to the YSD language arts curriculum to be in line with the Common Core standards.

“The new standards will focus more heavily on reading for information, rather than reading for literature,” said Lincoln School principal Paul Struck. “In 2014-15, all of the tests will be based on the new standards, so we need to be ready for those changes.”

He added that the writing standards have not changed much, but there is an emphasis on language, which is based on mechanics.

“There are a lot of standards and expectations, especially at the primary levels,” Struck said. “However, there are also more expectations for all kids across all grades.”

Also at the meeting, board members approved a two-year contract for Kindle as the new superintendent.

Kindle’s contract, approved in executive session, will pay him $116,200 in the first year and $121,200 in the second year. The contract also includes all benefits in accordance with other school district administrators.

Also on the agenda Monday, board members approved recommendations for the 2013 SDHSAA ballot. This included approving changes to Amendment One, approving a District II representative and a large group board of education representative.

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