The fiscal year 2020 preliminary budget was approved. It will be placed on display for a minimum of 30 days with final action set for the regular September board meeting. Revisions will be made prior to final adoption.
The board also approved a recommendation from Bushue Human Resources for district insurance renewal with ICRMT for packer, boiler and machinery, auto, umbrella and legal liability. The total premium is $111,275 as presented through Diamond Brothers Insurance of Centralia, an annual increase of about five percent over expiring premiums. The increase is due to the number of insured vehicles increasing from 33 to 34.
They also accepted the low bid from Midwest Bus Sales for a five-year lease/purchase of two 71-passenger school buses for $18,185 per vehicle.
This is the last month for the district to receive money from the state and they have received all reimbursements. Total revenue for June was $1,086,284, which includes $47,504 from the 1 % sales tax.
In the superintendent’s report for June, Brad Lee noted that school opens in less than a month. August 12 and 13 will be teacher institute and work days. On August 12th there will be a breakfast at the High School Cafeteria at 7:30 AM. The first full day of school will be on Wednesday, August 14th. School will dismiss 50 minutes earlier the first week so younger students will become acclimated and for staff to have some additional preparation time.
General building maintenance throughout the district is progressing well. The security camera project is supposed to begin at the end of this month or the first week in August. Asphalt repairs to the Junior/Senior High School, Washington School and Brownsville School is to begin this Wednesday.
The Brownsville School playground project is underway. The sidewalk should be poured before school starts and they will do landscaping. A swing set will be put up at the north end of the building and there will be a six foot chain link fence set up that should be done by September or October, weather permitting. This project is paid for through grant money.
In other business, the board approved the revision of five board policies and a five year renewal of nine other board policies.
They also accepted the resignation of Susan Keck as a pre-kindergarten classroom aide at Washington School effective immediately and accepted a donation of $6,000 from Stay Positive Stay Aggressive Inc. SPSA in support of the After School Program. SPSA is a non-profit organization started by CWCHS graduate Jade Mitchell. He sponsors a golf tournament each year to raise money for individuals and/or families who are dealing with challenging health problems and need financial assistance.
The board went into closed session at 7:15 PM to discus personnel.
Following closed session, the Carmi White County Unit 5 School Board has decided to hire Vanessa Kiser as a Part Time Breakfast Supervisor for a half hour daily at Lincoln to fill the vacancy created by the reassignment of Crystal Bennett. In addition, Heather Millhorn will be the Junior High Secretary and Guidance Secretary for the upcoming school year replacing Amber Carroll. Kim Egbert is being hired as a part time Special Education Bus Aide for 3 hours per day. Shelly Taylor will also be employed in that role. Recent graduate Justice Stubblefield is being hired as a High School Assistant Football Coach and Chris Lucas will serve as Assistant Volleyball Coach. Hillary Gee, Patricia Trout, Matt Sneed and Spud Egbert have been approved as volunteer coaches for Golf, Girls Tennis and the last two as football coach assistants. Finally, Anna York was granted a leave of absence for the upcoming school year.
