By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

While a formal budget hearing at Monday’s school board meeting was postponed, Peabody-Burns superintendent Ron Traxson’s report that the district would have $18,000 less to spend this year was good news.

“I was anticipating $70,000 to $80,000, so I can live with that,” Traxson said.

The legislature wrangled well into June with a new state funding formula that would satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court, which had ruled past funding was inadequate and unconstitutional. The late session kept districts in the dark about how much money to expect until July.

District enrollment was down by six students, but Traxson said the district had a chance to break even by the time official state counts are due in September. Classes begin Tuesday.

In other business:

• The district spent more on its food program through Opaa Food Management last year than the prior year, Traxson said. However, receipts from good participation left the program with a positive cash balance. “We’re getting a pretty good deal,” he said.
• A proposed purchase of a 10-passenger bus was delayed so that in-county purchase options could be explored.
• ESSDACK, educational consultants from Hutchinson, will facilitate a Friday staff inservice looking at unique aspects of working with children from low-income families, Traxson said.
• New middle/high school principal Scott Kimble talked about educational priorities he has for the new year, including increased use of seminar time for providing academic assistance to students.