The Moran Township Board of Education voted to levy 16.8734 mills on non-homestead property, raising an estimated $961,784 in 2010 for the school's operations, during a meeting Monday, June 21. It also adopted its 2010-2011 balanced school budget, with an expected surplus of $82,827 from last year's budget, pending an audit, and agreed to seek a sinking fund millage for building improvements of 1.75 for 2010, which will raise an expected $154,830, plus another $1,000 in investment income, for a total of $155,830. Board members say the sinking fund millage will expire after the 2010 collection, and will not ask to renew for several years.

The board accepted the resignation of fifth and sixth grade teacher Marcia Sweeney, along with the resignation of board of education president Janice O'Boyle, agreed to purchase property next to the school, heard public comment on St. Ignace Area Schools' consideration to only offer junior high band and athletics programs to students enrolled in the St. Ignace district, and announced the board could give an additional $15,000 to St. Ignace Area Schools to continue to allow Gros Cap students to take part in those programs.

Gros Cap's School's expected surplus can be attributed to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, plus about $40,000 in unanticipated taxes when homestead properties were changed over to non-homestead, and frugality, said Superintendent Bill Peltier. The surplus does not take into account the $15,000 offered to St. Ignace schools.

The total expected revenues for 2010 budget is $1,086,328, down $28,198 from last year. The decline in revenue owes, in part, to less stimulus money coming in.

By June 30 the board expected to have about $184,102 in the sinking fund, which is used for infrastructure upgrades, and expects to gain an additional $155,830 for the 2010 collection. After spending $215,000 for roof repairs, window replacements, and other improvements, the expected fund will be $124,932.

Mr. Peltier said the 2010 levy should be enough to cover any outstanding projects and the remainder should last the school for three to five years. The school will not ask residents to levy the sinking fund millage for several years as a result.

District Offers $15,000

to St. Ignace Area Schools

With Gros Cap students potentially being benched from athletic and music programs from St. Ignace Area Schools, the board has offered the St. Ignace school district $15,000.

St. Ignace is considering limiting junior high band and athletic programs only to St. Ignace Area Schools students in the face of a funding deficit. Limiting the programs may encourage more students to attend St. Ignace Area Schools, which would generate more per-pupil funding for that district.

Rather than hiring a teacher to offer the programs, the Moran Township school board opted to offer additional money to enable their students to continue. Gros Cap pays roughly $7,500 per year for athletics to St. Ignace for 7th and 8th grade on a per diem basis, and has contracted with the band teacher to visit their school for roughly $4,500, Mr. Peltier said. St. Ignace received about $10,000 in per pupil funding for 2009-2010 from the state for Gros Cap students when they were sent for band, St. Ignace Schools Business Manager Kathy McLeod said.

The offer was made several weeks ago, Mr. Peltier said, and a response has not been received yet.

Students could miss out on girls volleyball, boys and girls track, boys and girls basketball, and seventh and eighth grade interscholastic wrestling.

A grandparent, Donna Cryderman, who attended the meeting, explained she is unhappy about the consideration.

“I keep thinking we're a commu- nity. It's not Gros Cap, it's not St. Ignace, it's a community,” she said.

Mrs. O'Boyle said the board was willing to work with St. Ignace. If an agreement cannot be reached, music and art programs will be offered to Gros Cap students some other way, she said.

Pete Everson, Superintendent of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District, said he thought Gros Cap's offer was generous. When asked by parent Gary Nitz, who attended the meeting, if there was anything Mr. Everson could do, Mr. Everson said he would be willing to speak with St. Ignace Area Schools about the proposal.

The board agreed to have Mr. Everson speak to the district. A meeting will be set before St. Ignace's next board of education meeting Monday, July 12, at 7 p.m.

Two Retire from Gros Cap School

Marcia Sweeney, who has taught at Gros Cap School for 23 years, announced her retirement for July 1. In a letter to Mr. Peltier, she explained she is retiring to take advantage of the state's retirement offerings. The state retirement incentive offers an increased pension for all education employees who retire between July 1 and September 1 this year. Her position will be posted internally and then publicly if no applications are received.

Mrs. O'Boyle also retired as president of the board of education. The board has the month of July to appoint someone to replace her, and if they are unable to, the ISD will make an appointment. Mrs. O'Boyle has served as president for 17 years.

“Your enthusiasm and passion to keep this school open and viable we hope to continue,” Mr. Peltier said.

Mrs. O'Boyle told The St. Ignace News she resigned from her position to apply for the cook position at the school when it becomes available. Board of education members cannot apply for any jobs in the school unless they resign first. Blanche Thomas, who retired, previously served as the head cook at Gros Cap.

Property Purchased To Be Used Potentially as Drain Field or Parking Space

Property next to Gros Cap School will be purchased for $58,500, which could be used as a back-up, with the proper permits, in case the school's drain field fails. The approximately three acres could also be used for additional parking space, Mr. Peltier said.