School Board approves three-year plan for PPEL spending

The Clear Lake School Board worked through a lengthy, but relatively routine agenda Monday night.  
    High School Principal Jay Mathis presided at the board meeting in fulfillment of a requirement as he works toward his endorsement as a superintendent.  
    As another part of that endorsement, Mathis has been working to development a three-year PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) expenditure plan.  Together with Maintenance and Transportation Director Kelly McLaughlin, Technology Coordinator Jason Christianson and Business Manager Lorna Leerar, Mathis made a recommendation to the Board for PPEL expenditures.
    The district annually takes in approximately $490,000 through the levy, Mathis reported.  However, the district had no specific plan for spending the funds.  Typically, the levy was used to fund large expenditures, such as buses and computers, rather than tap the general fund for such items.
    Mathis said he asked McLaughlin and Christianson to create wish lists for their departments.  Then, those lists were prioritized and developed into a short-term spending plan.
    “The plan will provide guidance to the district and keep us from over-spending, while also protecting us to ensure our needs can be met,” said Mathis.  
    The Board will revisit the proposed three-year plan on an annual basis.
    Mathis and Superintendent Dwight Pierson stressed that recommendations made by a Facilities Committee in recent years will be honored, however the three-year PPEL plan will help the district plan its spending.  Pierson noted the district has committed its local option sales tax revenues to its expansion project at Clear Creek School until 2013.  After that date, those revenues can be considered for use on facilities recommendations, along with PPEL funds.
    In other business, the school district has received notice from the Teamsters that its para-educators have accepted the District’s contract proposal.  The Board approved a three-year contract with the Teamsters regarding salary and benefits for para-educators.