School Board Renews Superintendent's Contract

The Sidney School District Board of Education renewed the contract for superintendent Rodney “Jay” Ehler during the March 12 meeting.

Ehler is contracted with an annual salary of $149,000, a $300 monthly travel allowance, health, dental and life insurance. The District also pays Ehler’s professional dues and professional publications.

The board also reviewed expenditures for February.

The District is operating with a budget of about $15.5 million. Year to date expenditures account for 47.31 percent of the budget, almost $7.4 million. The Board of Education has spent almost 68 percent of its $32,233 budget so far, a total of $15,205.89. Poverty Programs account for the second largest parcent of the expenditures so far, spending 66.26 percent — $86,244 — of its $169,360 budget.

February funds show the District has a Payroll cash balance of $10,795,80, $1,678,774.63 in the General Fund for a total of $1,689,570.43. In the school lunch account, the February balance balance shows $176,400.69, less $33,39818 in outstanding checks for a balance of $143,002.51.

The district has received $8,019,503 in local district property taxes, 101.79 percent of property tax required ($7,878,847).

The board also reviewed enrollment in its March 12 meeting, comparing Aug. 23, 2017 numbers to Feb. 28, 2018. Overall, the District is down five students from the beginning of school.

Central Elementary lost a total of one student, South Elementary nine, North gained two and West gained three. Seventh grade lost three students, eighth grade one for an overall decrease in the Middle School of four students.

The high school experienced a slight gain with ninth grade losing one, tenth grade gaining two, eleventh grade gaining two and twelfth grade gaining four for an overall gain of seven.

“Our numbers are really not that down,” said board member Kathy Nienhueser.

The board was informed the District has lost about 50 students since last year.