The 2017 fiscal year budget was approved. Total receipts for all funds are projected as $14,886,847 with expenditures of $13,467,199. That results in a balance of $1,419,648 in receipts versus expenditures.
The Board also approved Bushue Human Resources Insurance recommendation of renewal of Wright Specialty Insurance for package, boiler and machinery, auto, umbrella and educators’ legal liability for a total premium of $145,049. That’s a 9.6% increase in premiums, which is a smaller increase than last year.
The District received two state aid payments from august and one from this month totaling $666,000, with one more payment to be received by the end of September.
The State still owes the District $296,000.
In the Superintendent’s report, Brad Lee said the District’s student enrollment for the 2017-18 school year was 1,342; down 55 students from last year. That’s a little more of a drop than normal. And it’s unknown why.
In the school funding bill recently passed by the State, it includes the evidence-based funding for students success act. This recognizes individual student needs, accounts for differences in local resources, closes funding gaps and keeps them closed and provides a stable, sustainable system that gets all districts to adequacy over time. The new formula replaces the old one that was used for 20 years and ties school funding to those evidence-based best practices that research shows enhance student achievement in the classroom. Each year, districts need to have a funding plan to show how the additional money will be spent. At this time, they’re unsure of the amount of new dollars the district will receive.
And the Carmi Chamber of Commerce has awarded $200 grants to six teachers in the school district who were selected by the Chamber’s Education Committee.
In other business, the Board approved a serious safety hazard resolution as required by the State to annually certify that the hazards still exist, approved final action on changes to five board policies and approved two family and medical leave act requests; for Cynthia Smith effective until November 20th and for Shirley Ritsch until January 2nd, 2018. Dates in both cases are subject to change.
And they accepted the resignations of Mona Warrick as junior-senior high school attendance secretary, Keisha Sisco as noon hour supervisor at Lincoln school, Wayne Nelson as a crossing guard at Lincoln school, Dusty Aud as 5th grade boy’s basketball coach, William Knight as 7th grade boy’s basketball coach, Jonathan Goemaat as 8th grade girl’s basketball coach and Clay Gray as 7th grace girls basketball coach, all effective immediately.
The Board went into closed session at 7:26 p.m.
In the closed session, the Board employed Jim Denson as a crossing guard at Lincoln Attendance Center, and approved Faye Carter, Naydean Cox, Kay Loomis, and Winifred Rector as building volunteers.
Glenda Nelson was employed as a noon supervisor, and William Knight was employed as the 8th grade boys basketball coach. Jonathan Goemaat was hired as the 7th grade boys basketball coach, and Clay Gray was employed as the 8th grade girls basketball coach, with Dave Gray approved as the 7th and 8th grade girls volunteer basketball coach. Cherie Westfall was employed as a high school special education individual aide.
The Board also adopted a resolution referencing the reduction in hours and honorable dismissal of an educational support personnel.
The Unit 5 School Board meets again on October 16th.
