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Frequently Asked Questions regarding the change of the school calendar and the current funding crisis.

Question/Suggestion.  Instead of taking days off of school after the first of the year, why not get out of school a week or so early?

Response.  Some of the thought behind spreading out the "No School" days for children was: The days selected are not the most productive days for quality instruction in the school year.  The teachers can use these non-school days to work on adult learning, lesson planning, collaboration, and other activities more constructively than at the end of the school year, and be more effective on the days students are in class.  The district support staff (which are paid on an hourly basis) that will not be working these days will have their pay reduction spread out over a period of time, not in one month.   The final reason is that depending on how severe the financial crunch gets we still may have to use days at the end of the calendar year for reductions.

Question.  I noticed in the paper that the school district has lots of money.  The High School has nearly $130,000. Why not spend that money instead of cutting days off the school calendar?

Response.  The money that was listed in the Holton Recorder under the High School comes from student organizations that are a result of funding raising by student groups and resources that were generated by the High School.  Some examples include: FFA, FBLA, Band Boosters, Cheerleaders, nearly all the athletic teams, Foreign Language Club, and each class also has an account (ie-Junior Class raises money for the prom).  This money has been raised by the student groups and belong to them for designated projects.

Question.  The school district has $750,000 in capital outlay and we’re letting out school because we have no money!  That does not make sense.  What about bond and interest and all the money in the Foundation?

Response. Capital Outlay, primarily raised from local mills is dedicated to construction, repair and equipment.  Because the Kansas Constitution states taxes can only be used for the purposes authorized when they were raised, it would take a constitutional amendment to use these funds for general operations. Bond and Interest-these are revenues from local property taxes dedicated to scheduled bond payments.   This is tax money levied before July which is required for payments due after July 1.  Spending this money on operations would result in defaulting on debt payments, and would damage our local bond ratings.  Education Foundation-money placed there by gifts from patrons and is designated mainly for scholarships.