By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
A representative from the state auditor’s office gave a presentation to the Buckeye Central Board of Education during their last regular scheduled meeting of the year Thursday night.
Donovan O’Neil spoke to the Buckeye Central board about the positives of having an audit of the school’s financial performance. During his presentation O’Neil explained, “The average return is $25 for every $1 spent.”
O’Neil also explained that the cost for such an audit would cost the school $50,000 to $60,000.
Buckeye Central Superintendent Tara Meyerink explained why the presentation was given.
“This is something that I put out there and suggested to the board that this might be a way to get the community involved. It’s a best practice. And when I did the history of Buckeye they have never done anything like this before,” Meyerink said. “So you know with the big idea to getting a long term plan and really developing some things to get Buckeye to move forward this just seemed like a logical thing to do.”
During old business the school board discussed recovering the cost of the law suit from the community complaint against the board president which amounted to $11,260 in uncovered expenses.
Board member Bernie Kesslersaid, “What happens? How many times can people file complaints? We have taken our hits as a district. That is $11,000 that could have been used in a classroom somewhere.”
Board President Susan Shealy told the board, “I have met with County Prosecutor Matt Crall about outlining a plan to write to the Attorney General’s Office.”
Also under old business the school board discussed a plan for reduction in compensation for board members. Bernie Kessler motioned to remove the word reduction, and proposed a different approach.
“A better package for the board that the board members maintain $125 pay per meeting and rule out mileage, and food reimbursements,” Kessler said. “The higher compensation might generate interest for people to run for the board.”
Board member Mike Kalb responded, “When I ran I didn’t know we got paid, and I don’t count my mileage.”
The board voted agreed 4-1, with Kessler abstaining, that salary for the board members would remain at $100 per meeting for a maximum of 15 meetings for the 2014 year.
The Buckeye Central FFA gave a presentation of Parliamentary Procedure. Prior to their presentation, the members of the FFA explained that the group is made up of eight members, five of which are board members. During their presentation the FFA students went through a mock board meeting. The FFA Parliamentary Procedure team won a contest for the presentation at state level, and will travel to Oklahoma in April for Nationals.
The Buckeye Central Board of Education approved all items on the Consent Agenda, including naming Missy McDougal President Pro Tem for the 2014 Organizational Meeting, with Mike Kalb serving as back up. Newly elected board members Chris Martin, Elizabeth Diesch, and Steve Aicholz will be sworn in at that organizational meeting.
The Buckeye Central Board of Education will hold its organizational meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 2. The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 9.