Letters To The Editor, Meeker, Opinion

Letter to the Editor: RE-1 board declares fiscal emergency

Dear Editor:
This is an open letter to all residents in Meeker School District-RE1. Last week, the Meeker Board of Education (MBE) approved current policy DBH and declared the school district in a fiscal emergency.
What does this mean? This policy states that the MBE has determined that the amount of funding appropriated for expenditure in the budget exceeds the actual revenue available to the district due to actions of the Colorado State Legislature and/or governor.
On Jan. 6, the Meeker School District (MSD) received final budget numbers from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). This is the amount of money per pupil the state will send to the MSD for the current school year. The original funding was projected to be $7,625 per pupil. The actual amount received by MSD is $739 less per pupil than the projected amount CDE reported to the MSD in October.
What that means is the MSD will receive $6,886 per-pupil funding, which is approximately $500,000 less than expected.
How did this happen? That is the difficult part to explain.
Due to the complex school finance process, the money collected by local county property taxes through the assessed value is sent to the state each year. The state then uses all of the past legislation including the Gallagher Amendment of 1982, TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) of 1992, the Colorado School Finance Act of 1994, Amendment 23 and most recently SB-13-260 to determine how much money each school district will receive.
In Rio Blanco County, assessed values were approximately 15 percent lower than in the past two years. So, the negative factor that applies to the MSD went up (money sent back to the state) and the per-pupil funding (money received back from the state) went down significantly.
The MSD was anticipating the budget needed for the 2013–2014 school year to be more than what the MSD could afford by approximately $540,000. Since the November mill levy override request failed to pass, the MSD was prepared to deal with this shortfall.
Now, with this new funding level presented by CDE, the MSD will be approximately $1,003,000 short for this school year. Yes, that is over a million dollars short.
The annual school budget for MSD is just under $6 million dollars annually, so this is almost 20 percent of the entire budget.
Whose fault is this? This is not a result of current or past school board or superintendent decisions.
This is a result of some of the most complex school finance legislation imaginable.
In 2011, Colorado ranked 43rd in state funding for public education. Colorado spends approximately $2,700 less per pupil than the national average. Neighboring states like Kansas spend more than $2,400 more and Wyoming spends over $10,000 more per pupil each year than Colorado.
What do we do?
Meeker Schools Superintendent Mark Meyers will be convening a working group made up of school staff, two members of the school board and community members with the intent to explore all possible options to cut the current budget.
This group will make recommendations on spending in a effort to get through this year’s difficult financial situation. This working group will also explore ideas addressing how to prepare for the long- term sustainability of MSD.
What we need from the Meeker community are ideas and suggestions on how we educate our kids under this legislative-dictated budget. In addition, we are looking for community members who are able to volunteer as members of this working group to help create a solid financial plan now and into the future. This working group will bring budget recommendations to the superintendent and the board of education.
The Meeker School District will also be hosting a public forum at 6 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Meeker High School to discuss this situation in an open setting.
Meeker Board of Education
Bill deVergie
President
Meeker

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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
2 days ago
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
2 days ago
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Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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3 days ago
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Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
6 days ago
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
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View on Instagram |
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