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20 <br /> Mary Bushnell suggested that these reports compiled by the school <br /> systems be presented at one or more Saturday morning meetings. <br /> Ralph Warren stated that it would be much easier to justify what <br /> they are doing in their schools after such a report is given. <br /> John Link agreed that this information would help the Board of <br /> Commissioners understand the needs. They would be in a position <br /> to explain why each system receives the amount of money they get <br /> and why those amounts are meeting the defined needs. He <br /> questioned the practice of requesting money from the Board of <br /> Commissioners based on defined priorities and then not sticking <br /> to those priorities when the money is being disbursed. <br /> Mary Bushnell stated that the School Board feels that it must <br /> make the final decision concerning disbursement after the total <br /> allocation has been decided upon by the Board of Commissioners. <br /> Moses Carey believes that the School Boards need to come to the <br /> Commissioners with their needs ranked in priority order. The <br /> citizens who have lobbied their elected officials expect the <br /> money to be spent on the identified priorities. He is not <br /> comfortable with the School Board partially funding the top six <br /> priorities after the Board of Commissioners have fully funded the <br /> top three priorities. This leads to including all six items as <br /> continuation requests in next year's budget. <br /> Verla Insko asked to have the terms "continuation" and <br /> "additional continuation" explained to her. <br /> John Link indicated that at a 1989 meeting with both <br /> Superintendents these terms were clarified. "Continuation" is <br /> defined as the cost of continuing present operations, including <br /> the increases associated with inflation. "Additional <br /> continuation" is defined as the cost of responding to maintenance <br /> needs or student growth while continuing present operations. <br /> "Expansion" is used to describe new initiatives or programs. <br /> John Link suggested that these definitions be reviewed. It is <br /> important that both systems use the same definition. <br /> Moses Carey stated that he is committed to funding continuation <br /> and additional continuation. He believes that established <br /> priorities need to be followed. <br /> Verla Insko asked if a category could be created for "one time <br /> expenses" so that those expenses could be funded but would not go <br /> into the next year's continuation budget. <br /> Neil Pedersen stated that he believed the Board of Commissioners <br /> should review and approve the overall budget for the school <br /> 4 <br />