COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa — More than $633,000 in spending from two Columbus School District budget funds was unanimously approved by the Columbus Community School Board Monday.

The Board had reviewed the expenditures during a special Oct. 9 work session, but delayed action.

The spending plan included $182,175 from the school’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) that had originally been approved as part of the fiscal 2006-07 budget, but not yet committed by the District.

The expenditures included $18,000 for copiers and an $82,175 payment to a government loan program that helped finance the installation of a geo-thermal system at the middle/high school. The government program payment was the second of 10 scheduled annual payments. Other PPEL expenditures included $36,000 for a new high school canopy, $36,000 for the final payment of a middle school air conditioning project and $10,000 for a new swimming pool fence.

The Board also confirmed $323,774 in School Infrastructure Local Option (SILO) sales tax spending that had already been included in the  fiscal 2006-07 budget and an additional $309,550 in SILO spending for other needs.

Included in this expenditure list was the second of 10 annual revenue bond payments for the geothermal system ($133,208); the middle school air conditioning project ($92,387); roof repairs ($47,151) and small amounts for fire alarms, painting, electrical repairs, carpeting, door repairs, locker replacements and ceiling repairs.

The Board also agreed to spend an additional $309,550 for technology upgrades, additional roof repairs, acquisition of a wrestling mat, middle/high school restroom repairs and other work.

In other action

*The Board learned the District’s certified student enrollment this year totaled 1,033.2 students, a drop of four from the 2005-06 figure.

Superintendent Rich Bridenstine said the state’s 4 percent allowable growth formula would raise the level of state aid per student from $4,931 to $5,128 and mean an increase in aid next year. However, he said the drop in students continued a trend that had started in 2003-04 when the student enrollment was 1,107.5. Since then, the student population has dropped for three consecutive school years, with the biggest decline in 2004-05 when the school lost 63 students.

*The Board approved the final reading of a good conduct policy and accepted the resignation of curriculum coordinator Kathy Yoder, effective at the end of the 2006-07 school year.

Officials did not give a reason for Yoder’s decision to resign. She was not available for comment.

 Contact Jim Rudisill at: 319-523-2213

or jimrudisill@yahoo.com