By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The Colonel Crawford Board of Education meeting Monday was about a little bit of this and that and a lot of numbers.
Treasurer Vicky Stump presented her five-year forecast and said, “This is one of the most optimistic forecasts I’ve done since I’ve been here.”
Taking the conservative approach, Stump has projected a positive cash balance at the end of the year of over $1.15 million. Stump’s forecast did show a negative balance of just over $51,000 by the end of 2019. Colonel Crawford’s projected overall budget is $9.5 million this year and that is expected to grow to just under $10 million by 2019.
Colonel Crawford Superintendent Todd Martin explained to the board that one forecast is likely to set the timeline back for the district high school wing project. Because of unexpected complications in the asbestos abatement process at Whetstone and Sulphur Springs that portion of the project will likely run about one week past the original deadline of this Friday. Demolition of those two buildings and the old Intermediate building in North Robinson will begin Nov. 10.
The process for demolition contracts for the current high school will begin in November as well, but the actual demolition will be delayed because the next school year is now being projected to start in the current facilities. Because of an expected difficult winter, the new wing is now projected to be completed by the end of next September or early October, not prior to the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year as originally planned.
The board did approve some sole sourcing for the new wing which centered on items that could not be bid because of having to match the current preK-8 building. Those centered primarily on security items.
High School Principal Jake Bruner commended the boys and girls cross country teams for both qualifying for the Division III regional meets last weekend. It was the first time in school history both teams went to the regional meet in the same year. The boys team has qualified for the state meet this weekend.
Bruner also read a letter to the board from Seneca East Principal Don Vogt commending the cross country teams for “one of the best displays of sportsmanship I have seen in a long time.” The Colonel Crawford teams collected money for a Seneca East cross country runner whose family belongings were recently destroyed in a house fire. That presentation was made to the runner at the recent N10 league meet hosted by Seneca East.
Colonel Crawford Athletics Director David Sheldon reported that the Colonel Crawford Athletics Boosters recently completed a project of replacing all the fencing surrounding the softball field. The boosters picked up the entire $22,000 cost of the project.
Jennifer Sautter explained the Eagles Excellence Award program now in place to encourage and reward polite and proper behavior towards others. Vocal music instructor, Ms. Fourman, detailed a planned field trip for the Vision Show Choir to New York City. Twenty-three students will compete at the College of Staten Island as well as see sites of interest such as the 911 Memorial and Statue of Liberty. Fundraisers are being conducted to help offset the cost of $680 per student.