ASBSD Directors receive current audit report, plan for membership survey

ASBSD will cut expenses by one-half percent and use $80,000 from reserves to balance the association's budget next year, the ASBSD Board of Directors decided May 14 in Pierre.

With the approval of the $2.2 million budget, directors followed through on a plan to freeze association dues for the 2011-12 school year - a directive they established during early budget discussions. The board suspended the association's dues formula, which calculates dues based on school district expenditures, in response to the cuts to K-12 education.

"Our board is made up of local school board members, and we know schools are facing steep financial challenges," said ASBSD President Neil Putnam, a school board member from Mitchell. "The entire board felt it was necessary to avoid a dues increase."

ASBSD President Neil Putnam presides over the ASBSD Board of Directors meeting help May 14 in Pierre.