Dear Patrons,
Well another summer has come and gone and nearly everybody is back in school. I say nearly everybody because I won’t be in the building until September 1st. I’ve reached the magic number of years to draw a retirement benefit and I have to sit out one month in order to be eligible to come back to work again. Believe me the school will run smoothly without me because it always does.
CSAP SCORES
Our last years CSAP scores are in and for accreditation purposes the state now uses a three year average for small districts. This common sense change actually was a result of a year long lobbying effort by the Rural Caucus. Because our numbers were normally less than 16 students per class we never received points for having a high graduation rate and low dropout rate. Now the averaging method will help address that issue.
Well after all was said and done our elementary and high school finished in the top accreditation category and that level has been given the boring name of “performance”. In the middle school our scores were somewhat lower and the state has given us specific targets to work on. Even that category entitled Improvement put us at the 50 percentile on a statewide basis.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Unfortunately for the second year in a row there will be no Wildcat football but the Eads Eagles have once again invited us to be part of their program. We are grateful to our neighbors for allowing our students the opportunity to compete in 6 man football. We hope to field a team next year and look forward to once again turning on the lights at Wildcat stadium.
Our girl’s volleyball team has started practicing for their upcoming season and we expect big things from the Lady Wildcats. I’ll make a prediction that the Lady Cats advance to regional competition again and that this year they make the state tournament. How’s that for setting high expectations and for putting pressure on the coaches and girls. Sorry about that Penny.
We’re also looking for another year of great accomplishments from our Future Farmers of American program and the Kit Carson Wind Ensemble as well. Speaking of the Wind Ensemble we are thrilled to welcome Miss Sarah Fish to the fold. Sarah is a University of Northern Colorado graduate and will be a perfect fit for the program.  When you see Sarah please make it a point to introduce yourself and give her a warm Kit Carson welcome. You’ll recognize her because she’ll be the only teacher on staff that you don’t recognize. Ok enough of the wise guy comments.
BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE INFORMATION
Starting in mid September the district will list on its website the school district budget and the check register for you to review. We’re hopeful that this will give you a better look at just how your taxpayer dollars are being invested in our students. Once the system is up and running if you have any questions about any expenditure please feel free to give me a call and I will explain the purpose of that transaction to you.
We also just finished our yearly audit and I want to let you know that once again the district was found to be in total compliance with all financial reporting requirements. Now this isn’t a comment that’s designed to make me look good but instead serves as a tribute to the quality work that Sheila McNeely does as business manager. Routinely we are told that our records of expenditures are among the most accurate of all the districts that Winfrey and County reviews. Great work Sheila.
MILL LEVY QUESTION
I’ve included the actual ballot question and a summary of who pays what if the question passes for you to review. The summary is from the County Assessors office and only includes what you the home owner, land owner, or business owner will pay if the levy is approved.
This year oil and gas will pay about 63 percent of the tab and therefore their share will be just over $28,000 of the total request and the local taxpayers will be pick up the remaining $17,000. Also it’s important to note that our good friends in the energy sector will be able to write off 87.5 percent of their contribution on their state severance tax payments to Denver. In other words the net tax increase to the oil and gas industry will only be about $3200. The question you need to ask in this area is do you want their money to go to Denver or to stay locally.
Also as is the case with all tax questions we have to say should taxes be raised annually by $45,000. Now that sounds like we get $45,000 one year and then $90,000 the next and then $135,000 the year after that. I’m asking you to trust me that this is not the case. We get $45,000 the first year and then the base is reduced to zero and the next year we get another $45,000. These increases do not compound on themselves. All I can say is that I’ve served 17 years as Superintendent of this district and hopefully that’s enough for you to take my word on this one.
Just a quick reminder that our contribution at the district level has been that we filled Fab’s position from within, we froze all salaries for a year and I am going to work one month for free over a two year period as my contribution to the cause.
We really do need the increase for the next five years so that we can remain one of the most financially stable school districts in the state.  Believe me we are in great financial shape but to continue to support the quality programs that we do we need your support of this ballot issue. I’ve always been proud that our board has taken a long term financial view and understands the important role that the school district plays in the local economy.
Since I’m constructing this letter prior to August 1st I don’t have the exact dates and times that we’ll have public hearing on the requested increase but watch next months letter for specific times and dates for such a discussion.
Well that does it for this month and thanks again for all your past support of Kit Carson R-1 School District and we’re looking forward to great year in 2010-2011. Oh and as I say every year it’s highly likely we’ll make a few mistakes along the way and please feel free to call me on those when we do. I haven’t quite figured out to have the school district move from a great one to a perfect one just yet.