Algona School Board meets......

THE ALGONA SCHOOL BOARD MET LAST NIGHT. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT MARTY FONLEY TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET SITUATION. FONLEY SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB BALANCING REVENUES WITH EXPENDITURES AS THE BUDGET HAS BEEN OVERSPENT THREE OUT OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS. FONLEY SAYS A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE DEFICIT IS TIED TO THE NUMBER OF PUPILS IN SCHOOL. HE SAYS INSURANCE AND FUEL COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND NO MAJOR REDUCTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE THE LAST TWO YEARS. ACCORDING TO A HANDOUT PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE MEDIA THE LAST TWO YEARS EXPENDITURES HAVE EXCEEDED REVENUES BY 836-THOUSAND-511 DOLLARS. FONLEY SAYS THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR BEGINS IN APRIL.

IN OTHER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS, FONLEY SAYS HE IS A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM RELEASING A CERTIFIED ENROLLMENT NUMBER TO THE START DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BUT HE DID SAYS THE OVERALL ENROLLMENT FIGURE IS UP.

ALGONA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL BILL FJETLAND TALKED ABOUT THIS YEARS SUMMER P-E TRIP WHICH WAS A BIKE RIDE ON OFF-ROAD TRAILS IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. HE SAYS 73 STUDENTS TOOK THE COURSE, SOME TO FREE UP SCHEDULE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES. STUDENTS HAD TO BIKE 35 TO 40 MILES A DAY PLUS CAMP AND COOK, THEY HAD TO JOURNALIZE AND STUDY ARCHITECTURE,
HISTORY AND CULTURE ALONG THE WAY. THE SCHOOL ALTERNATES A CANOE TRIP WITH A BIKE TRIP EVERY OTHER YEAR. THE PROGRAM HAS GONE ON FOR 14 YEARS.