Spurlock is presently working five days a week until July 31 at a rate of $440 per day. The district has paid Spurlock $35,750 through June 8 according to an examination of records by the JournalNews.
Stettler will work with the district until June 2013 at a rate of $352.42 per day. He has earned $39,515 through June 8.
The funds used to pay Spurlock and Stettler are funneled through Butler County Educational Service Center, who is paying the consulting fees with unrestricted funds from the state of Ohio provided to every school district.
“Both Dr. Stettler and Mr. Spurlock’s expertise and talent adds great value to the overall success of the operation. In a time where there is a shortage of highly qualified and experienced administrators at every administrative level, and especially at a district level, I am grateful they agreed to help Lakota during a critical transition time,” Mantia said.
Jon Graft, superintendent of the BCESC, said the center gets state foundation money on the total average daily membership — or number of kids in the district — in the county in order to support its work.
“The way that we share that with districts. We give a percentage of that back to the school districts. Particularly, they build a budget based on the amount that we give them based on their ADM that they have in the district,” he said.
“We give them a percentage of that — it’s a set amount of money — then they say to us, ‘we want to hire a consultant for 50 days, we want to hire a assistant to do some curriculum work, we want to hire a gifted coordinator.’ Basically, whatever we hire those folks in at we deduct from that budget amount.”
Spurlock’s duties with the district include working with Mantia to oversee administrative evaluations, serving as serving as the district’s disciplinary hearing officer, and working closely with her on day-to-day operations and budget planning. Spurlock made $105,134 in salary last year. His services will continue on an as needed basis with the district following July 31.
Stettler aids the district with overseeing student achievement and program development. He earned a salary of $108,603 last year.
Spurlock said using state funds to pay their salaries allows the district to save dollars and provides it with greater flexibility.
“I think that is kind of why we appreciate BCESC is because they do give us the flexibility in the ways that Lakota uses this money. That’s the bottom line. We’re able to hire personnel at a reduced cost. I’m an example of that,” he said.
“I don’t how you can knock that. I think that’s what the community wants is to look at every way of using every penny we have as efficiently as possible. I can’t see any down side to that at all.”
Stettler declined comment.
By keeping Spurlock and Stettler on as consultants, Lakota continues to receive their services, but for less money. Lakota will save $49,700 through July 2012, according to the district.
Typically, Graft said the money is used for hiring or for programs districts want the BCESC to run.
He said the specific amount of money the BCESC gives to the nine of 10 school districts in the county it provides support services for during a fiscal year is based on what the state allocates to it.
“I think we receive just a little over $3 million total ($3,779,743) and we give obviously percentages of that back to the districts to build their budgets, besides the services.
Eric Bode, executive director of quality school choice and funding for the ODE, said it is up to individual school boards to determine how to spend foundation funds.
“State law does not place limitations on its use. The budget bill’s appropriation simply states that foundation funds are to be used as ‘operating funding’ for each school district, he said.
“On the list of ‘normal uses,’ I would add building operations and maintenance, and student transportation.”
Gina Gentry-Fletcher, a spokeswoman for Fairfield City Schools, said the district uses its funding it receives from the BCESC to benefit the educational experience for its students by employing technology technicians, special education assistants such as sign language interpreters or occupational therapists. The district also uses the funding for school security personnel and its Welcome Center and registration staff, she said.
Joni Copas, the spokeswoman for Hamilton City School District, said the bulk of its foundation funds are used for personnel. The district also previously has used the funds for transportation services, she said.
Kelley Thorpe, treasurer for Middletown City Schools, said the district’s foundation funding with the Warren County Educational Service Center pays a portion of its contracted service with them for speech, three special ed instructional aides, the social communications classroom, and 10 seats at the alternative school.
Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.
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