First draft of budget presented
School Board members got their first look at the 2007-08 budget. Business Services Director Bryan Ruud presented the $44.8 million budget that includes a 5.07 percent increase in expenses and a projected 4 percent increase in the mil rate.
Ruud said conservative estimates were made to show a “worst case scenario” for taxpayers with property valuation projected at a 5 percent increase and no increase in state aid. In that case, the tax levy – the portion of budget covered by local property taxes – would increase 9.19 percent. Ruud said property valuation has increased by 9 or 10 percent in past years and assuming no increase in state aid is a conservative prediction.
“If valuation goes up or state aid increases, that will drive down the mil rate,” Ruud said.
The budget also assumes enrollment will increase by 75 students. School Board members will review the budget several more times voting on it in May and presenting it to the public at the June 18 Annual Meeting. Assumptions regarding valuation and state aid typically are refined before the School Board approves a budget.
Students and staff recognized
Hamilton Principal Candis Mongan and business education teacher Skip Hay recognized students involved with Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). Students who competed successfully at the state DECA Career Conference were honored. They were: Ashley Reimer, Patrick McCaffery, Megan Ropiak, Claire Greenway, Halley Greenway, Holly Rindfleisch, Brian Bialobrzeski, Mark Ray, Joseph Jurasovich, Frank Schweiger, Joseph Bartolone, Katherine Rodenkirk, Allison Umhoefer, Clinton Loker, Ryan Zahn, Kate Jackson and Anthony Gaglione.
In addition, Bialobrzeski, Reimer and Ray were recognized for their efforts in earning the Charger Corner school store with DECA’s School-Based Enterprise Gold Certification. The students worked with Hay to submit an 80-page portfolio the documented the store’s best practice.
Textbooks approved
The School Board approved the purchase of 12 high school textbooks for the 2007-08 school year. The books will be used in social studies, science, biology, Spanish, fitness education, business education, child guidance and Advanced Placement calculus and statistics classes. They were reviewed and recommended by curriculum committees and are aligned with state curriculum standards.
Personnel business
In personnel business, the School Board:
- accepted the resignation of Maple Avenue Early Reading Empowerment teacher Shelley Parrish;
- appointed Jennifer Hetzel as a Woodside fifth grade teacher, Lorene Lisheron as a part-time Hamilton art teacher, Justin Friske as the Hamilton Learning Center support teacher, Thomas Schlueter as a Hamilton graphic arts teacher, Jaclyn Mauer as a part-time French teacher, Addie Starrett as a Hamilton communication arts teacher, Andrew Bosley as a Hamilton social studies teacher, Catherine Kaiser as a Templeton sixth grade science and social studies teacher and Monika Trafficante as a Hamilton science and chemistry teacher;
- increased to full-time the high school contracts family and consumer education teacher Lisa Ray-Christenson, science teacher Jessica Ronk, mathematics teacher Penny Komatz and German teacher Lindsey Wehr.