School board considers budget, fundraisers for school projects

Sue Sitter/PCT Kevin Dvorak, president of the North Dakota Community Foundation, left, gives a presentation to Rugby school board members on fundraising strategies.
District budget matters, school fundraisers and a construction site tour at Rugby’s Ely Elementary School sparked discussions at the Rugby Public School Board’s regular meeting on Sept. 13.
Superintendent Michael McNeff presented information about the district’s budget for 2023, which, as in recent years, reduces state aid received through adjustments to an accounting formula based on its student population.
The district went “off formula” when it absorbed students from the former Wolford School District in 2019.
McNeff explained $10,237 per pupil guaranteed by state funding sources assumed a mill levy contribution of $3,284 and $169.25 from other local revenues, leaving $6,783.72 as the state’s actual per-pupil contribution.
Additionally, the state caps school districts’ general funds from growing beyond 12% of their previous year’s receipts.
The projected ending balance for the Rugby district’s general fund in 2023 shows an approximate decrease of 13%. The budget includes a mill levy increase to 112.5 from 111.16 in the previous year. McNeff noted previous mill levies have been much higher, totaling 118.35 as recently as 2018.
The levy will generate $3,512,808.11 for the district. Last year’s mill levy generated $3,367,192.36.
Total budget revenues estimated for 2023 amount to $145,615.76 more than the previous year.
The number reflects an increase in taxable valuation of $933,558 for properties within the district.
Overall revenues for the district fell over 2022 revenues, from $9.9 million to $8.8 million. Total projected expenditures for 2023 total $8.9 million, representing a deficit of around $126,000.
The board provided time for questions and answers from the public. No Rugby area residents attended the meeting.
The budget is available online at rugby.k12.nd.us.
The board also listened to a presentation from Kevin Dvorak, president and CEO of the North Dakota Community Foundation.
Dvorak showed the board ways to start and manage school legacy funds, using examples from districts across the state.
The board discussed forming a legacy fund for improvements and extras for Ely Elementary not included in a budget to fund an ongoing campus remodel project.
Board members noted homecoming week would provide opportunities to connect with graduates from Rugby schools for possible contributions to the fund.
A committee met later in the day to discuss developing fundraising strategies.
In other business, McNeff presented the district’s annual compliance report, which detailed the state standards met by Rugby schools.
The board also reviewed recommendations from an inspection done by local emergency responders, officials with the Department of Homeland Security, and Pierce County Emergency Services Manager Kelsey Siegler. The recommendations included securing and covering windows, installing alarms on doors to discourage staff or students from propping them open, and more.
The board also approved locking in guaranteed maximum prices on bids for a group of items included in Ely Elementary construction project. The price guarantee would guard against inflation, according to McNeff. The board also reviewed and approved a list of items for the school initially deferred included in a cost management plan.
Total costs for the Ely construction project amount to approximately $10 million.
The board also listened to reports from Rugby High Principal Jared Blikre and Ely Elementary Principal Jason Gullickson.
Blikre reported standardized testing was underway for students in grades 7 through 9 in reading and math to identify possible needs for intervention. He added sophomores and juniors at the high school would travel to Devils Lake and Bottineau on Sept. 16 for career fairs.
Members of Rugby High’s FFA chapter would travel to Bismarck for the FFA Fall Leadership Convention, and the school’s FCCLA chapter would travel to Lake Metigoshe to mark Leadership Day on Sept. 28.
Blikre noted the entire school would celebrate Rugby High’s homecoming week of Sept. 19-24.
Gullickson said Ely students in grades K-6 also participated in standardized testing to identify student academic strengths and needs in reading and math.
Basketball and choir for fifth and sixth graders were underway, according to Gullickson. Students in grades 4-6 were joining the school’s Lego League team as well.
“This year’s theme is ‘Super Power,'” Gullickson said. “What they will do is explore where energy comes from, where it’s stored and how it’s distributed and efficiency strategies.”
In other business, the board approved minutes and financials from August. Members decided to meet for a tour of the Ely Elementary construction site at 8 a.m. on Sept. 20.
The board next meets Oct. 11 at 7 a.m. in the Rugby High library.