The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor
One of the items on Southern school board's agenda Monday night was whether they wanted to hold a town meeting to explain their thoughts on consolidation.
It appeared to be the consensus of the members that it would be good to hold a public meeting.
This would not be a meeting to say if they favored consolidation or not, but to give the public the facts as they understand them.
Doug Brooks, Jon Corzatt and Dan Bowman agreed to work as a committee on an agenda for such a meeting and will present it to the entire board, for further input, when completed.
They also said they will ask Committee of Ten members to work with them to be sure they have the facts. A public meeting would probably not be held until late September.
Superintendent Tom Avery reporting on the 2004-05 District Budget gave these figures.
Budget for 2003-04
Total Expenses:: $3,406.322
Total Revenue :: $3,257,341
Deficit ::::: $148,981
Budget for 2004-05
Total Expenses:: $3,469,053
Total Revenue:: $3,344,888
Deficit ::::: $124,165
Revenue decrease this year is due to the decrease in EAV as well as a decrease in grant money.
Expenses are less due to savings in the Superin-tendent's salary and two of the higher salaried teachers retiring. The budget includes a 3.5% salary increase, which is subject to change since a contract agreement with the teachers has not yet been reached. Salaries are 75% of the budget.
Budget item increases include JH subs, insurance costs, board travel and transportation.
Budget decreases include library salary and insurance, guidance counselor salary and insurance and maintenance supplies.
Superintendent Avery reported the good news was they received $83,863 more in general state aid and $12,304 from an ADA block grant. All of this helped lower the deficit.
The board voted to obtain Student Accident Insurance from Diana Doran in the amount of $7,321 with a $25,000 maximum. The board accepted Plan B which pays 80% of the balance after primary insurance coverage or 80% in no insurance.
A donation of $2,000 was accepted from the Twomey Foundation and earmarked for the Education Fund.
Rod Fox reported Attorney Greg Baber is working on finishing up the paper work for the sale of the Pre-K building.
The board voted to accept Peterson's bid of $2,115.22 for sidewalks at the high school and the circle drive.
Principal Dale Buss reported there are 25 girls participating in volleyball and 52 boys (12 from Union) in football. This year's kindergarten class enrollment now stands at 24.
It was voted 6-1 that Scott Leinbach would again be the athletic trainer at no cost to the district.
Doug Brooks made a motion and Melissa Livermore seconded it that the Southern cheerleaders be allowed to sell "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon magnets with no cost to the district. The vote passed on a 5-2 vote with Brad Arnold and Brendan Schaley casting no votes.
The vote came after a discussion of the board's policy that fund raisers be approved by the board before being done.
However, the Union Cheerleaders had already purchased 1,000 of the magnets as a way to raise funds. Principal Buss was directed to make sure all sponsors and teachers are aware of the board's policy.
Principal Jeff Nichols reported 22 boys are participating in baseball, which began on Aug. 16th. Girl's basketball practice will begin after school on Aug. 30. He also stated no one had expressed an interest of being in charge of cheerleading for this school year.
The District Budget Hearing will be held at 5:00 p.m. on September 23, 2004.
The board entered closed session at 8:10 p.m. for the purpose of personnel considerations, contract discussions and student enrollment.
Following the closed session the board:
Hired Nancy Gibb as elementary/high school P.E. teacher and Jr. Hi girls basketball coach
Hired Jamie Taha as Jr. Hi girls assistant basketball coach
Hired Marty Harig as 8th grade boys basketball coach
Hired Heather Spetman as high school volleyball coach
Hired Alicia Annegers as high school assistant volleyball coach
Hired Candy Almendinger as Special Education Aide
Hired Dianna Pirog as high school Ag teacher (1/2 time), 3 hours/day Special Ed aide and FFA advisor
Hired Shelley Morrison as high school library aide, part time
Hired Erica Coleman as Speech/Language Therapist 2.5 days a week
Hired Vicky Keever and Terri Copeland as Jr. Class sponsors
Approved Vicky Keever as FHA sponsor with no stipend
Accepted the resignation of Jenny Ford as high school volleyball coach
Accepted the resignation of Caylin Mahr as high school Ag and FFA
Approved the entrance of a Kindergarten student with a birthday of September 4th after screening
Present: Dan Bowman, Brad Arnold, Melissa Livermore, Jon Corzatt, Doug Brooks, Rod Fox, Brendan Schaley, Tom Avery, Sharri Richard, Dale Buss, Jeff Nichols and Sam Sudhakar.
The next meeting will be held September 27th at 7:00.