By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
There was a cause for celebration and another for concern at Monday night’s Bucyrus Board of Education meeting.
Treasurer Ryan Cook announced that he closed out the finances for fiscal year 2016, which ended with $1,814,000 added to the bottom line.
“While that’s a strong figure, we know that as we look out long-term with increases in expense that we’re going to chip in to the carryover at some point in time, but we’re very well positioned right now,” Cook said.
He added that they have also been able to knock out a number of projects prior to closing the fiscal year, from building repairs and improvements to installing LED lights on school grounds and improvements to the tennis courts.
“Overall, we’re in a very strong position (for the) fiscal year that’s going to help us long-term down the road,” Cook concluded.
The finances may be looking stronger for the long-term, but school officials are now worried about the early results from the state testing data. The district met indicators in the science and social studies areas, but Director of Curriculum and Instruction Matt Henderson said the areas of English, language arts, and math are causes for concern.
The board and administration debated the early results from the tests, questioning what should be the district’s realistic goals and how to even get there.
Superintendent Kevin Kimmel cautioned the school board that the results were like comparing apples and oranges due to the fact that the data came from two different types of tests. He, along with Henderson and Dr. Mark Burke, believed usable results would not be available until after this coming school year when the district would finally have consistent data with two years’ worth of similar testing.
“This doesn’t define us,” Kimmel stressed.
Henderson also pointed out that the district’s test results were not far off from the state average, a point where he suggested setting a realistic goal.
“We would love to worry about the indicators,” Burke said before getting to the point that caused him the most concern. “We can’t worry about the indicators – we have to worry about those kids.”
Burke said “it was a kick in the seat” when he saw the results of the testing data, mainly because he knew the way the system was set up did not help students if they failed to get the requisite 18 points in testing in order to graduate.
Superintendent Kevin Kimmel presented the board with the district’s vision mission statement, which consists of four goal areas manned by administration and board members. Those four areas are climate culture, district resources, learning and instruction, and communications.
The board approved an agreement with Rock Solid Media for community relations and marketing services, and accepted the 2016 strategic plan. It also accepted the resignations of intervention specialists Liz Parcher and Julia Schiefer.
A special board meeting and building walk-through has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 10 beginning in the high school library. A district open house is also scheduled for Aug. 15 at the high school and elementary buildings with a Meet the Team event at 7:30 at the high school.
The first day of school is set for Aug. 22.