More than 3-year-olds will learn from a preschool program being considered for next year by Fort Gibson Schools, Superintendent Derald Glover said.

The program would also be part of the curriculum for high school students studying child development, he said.

The program is to be considered for approval by the board of education at its Feb. 1 meeting.

Glover discussed the proposal during public meetings on school finance last week.

Only two people attended the noon meeting; about 18 were at the evening session.

Glover went through the school budget and talked of the uncertainty for what the budget will be like not only for next year, but also for the year after that. All the experts he has talked with predict the economic crisis will have even worse impact for the 2011-2012 school year.

The state Legislature may bail out schools this year, with funding from the Rainy Day Fund, but that is uncertain, and the district must approach the budget-making process as if monies are going to be short, Glover said.

Right now, it looks as if the district will be faced with personnel cuts come July 1, Glover said. Generally, all contracts are renewed in the spring. This year, some teachers may be rehired contingent on funds being available.

The preschool program is one idea of how to rearrange personnel to save some jobs, he said.

The program would be supervised by one of the two family living teachers now in the system, with one teacher’s assistant.

The program would operate during regular school hours, with parents being charged a fee for participation in the program. Only 20 students would be accepted.

High school students would observe the children as part of their curriculum, Glover said.

The program would be especially helpful to teachers who have 3-year-olds and who want to place them in a program near their work and one that operates during their work hours, he said. Students from the community also would be welcome.



District keeps bond debt low

Fort Gibson school patrons approved $5.3 million in bonds for school improvements just about one year ago. It was the district’s largest bond issue in the school district’s history, Glover said.

Yet, it was not the largest the district could have proposed. Fort Gibson’s bond issues add about 12 mills to property taxes. All of that money goes to the district’s sinking fund, which is used to pay the bond issue debt. It cannot be used to pay general operating expenses of the district, Glover said.

Statewide, school districts have bonded indebtedness that goes as high as 38 mills. In Bristow, where Glover was superintendent before coming to Fort Gibson, the millage levy was 28 mills.

Fort Gibson’s school board feels that a higher levy would place too much of a burden on taxpayers, Glover said.



Lottery benefit minimal

Glover said Fort Gibson schools have seen no direct benefit from the state’s lottery.

When the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act was adopted, the public was told a portion of the money would go to schools.

The advertisement showing how many school buses, textbooks and other items could be purchased with lottery funds does not paint an accurate picture, Glover said.

Instead of the $36.8 million going directly to schools, it went to fund a $3,000 raise of teachers’ pay, Glover said. It never has been available for the district to purchase items such as computers for the students.





Fast facts

The Fort Gibson school district includes:

• 1,860 students.

• Approximately 54 square miles.

• 146 certified staff; 100 support personnel.

• Approximately $13 million budget.

• Approximately $20 million impact on local economy.

• Approximately 400,000 square feet of facilities.



School costs

Each year, the school district spends:

• About $11 million on operations, including about $800,000 per month for salaries.

• About $700,000 on building repairs and maintenance.

• Expenditures also are made for the school lunch program, activity funds and in other areas.



Where the money comes from

The school district’s general (operating) fund comes from:

• 42 percent ad valorem and local funds.

• 48 percent from the state.

• 10 percent from the federal government.

Building fund monies come from ad valorem taxes. The sinking fund money — to pay for bond issues — comes from a mill levy on property.