The Germantown School District may end the current budget year with a surplus, though a district administrator and school board member are wary of promoting it.
"I don't want to jinx anything here,"  School Board member Erin Jex said during the May 24 meeting.
In a May 21 memo to the board, Business Manager Ric Ericksen said: "I am cautiously optimistic that there will be a $240,217 surplus."
Ericksen said the possible surplus would be due to staff budget management efforts, an $87,000 energy rebate, $100,000 in savings due to fewer "lane changes" (adjustments in salary schedule) in faculty pay and $120,000 in energy savings.
In the memo, Ericksen said he is recommending that any surplus be placed in reserves to address any potential concerns in the upcoming budgets. Ericksen said concerns include open enrollment, as figures have not yet been determined as to how many students may be leaving the district.
Also:
•A high end projection for faculty lane changes is $289,000 for the 2010-11 school year while only $100,000 is budgeted;
•The board contingency account for educational needs is  $50,000 and board members have raised doubts if that is enough; and,
•The need to establish a fund to pay off debt from federal Q-bonds.
—By Thomas J. McKillen, Managing Editor