By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The Colonel Crawford Board of Education spent much of Wednesday’s meeting making arrangements for next school year and continuing on with plans for a new high school wing in spite of district voters turning down a 0.5-mil levy.
Superintendent Todd Martin and board members discussed at length a decision from the state to release funds to the school district albeit without that levy which means the district will proceed with a new high school wing and tearing down old district buildings.
“That $57,000 that would have been generated by the levy is being absorbed by cuts. We’re having to cut where we can to save that money,” Board President Mike Willacker said. “That’s the only way we can really get it (state funds).”
Those cuts include not replacing Martin’s administrative secretary and a classroom teacher. Both are retiring. Martin is dividing the responsibilities of the secretary among three other employees and teachers are being reassigned to compensate for not replacing the other staff member. The combined savings from those two positions is approximately $115,000. It also means the district will cut a kindergarten class.
“It’s helping us not go back to voters anytime soon,” Martin said. “That’s our goal.”
Board member Norm Huber noted the costs are being passed along. “We’re down one kindergarten teacher. The children are sacrificing for this.”
Martin said he believed key factors in that decision was that the district was so far along in the process and had already committed a significant amount of its own money to it. Martin noted he had been in discussion with a financial consultant, David Conley, who he believes will help the district identify other cost-saving measures. Conley will speak to the board at its next meeting.
“He (Conley) has some great ideas,” Martin said. “I’m excited for him to talk to you.”
The five-year forecast presented by Treasurer Vicki Stump was also good news with the district remaining in the black until 2018 when its deficit would be just over $3,500.
“We’re starting to improve our balances,” Stump told the board, citing cuts and some realignment measures.
While state funding was $79,000 less than had been forecast for the year, Stump pointed out revenues from property taxes and income taxes were more than expected. Her forecast also highlighted the importance of open enrollment to the district in terms of revenue.
The district showed a net gain of nearly $920,000. Martin said he has to turn away several families who applied for open enrollment next year because the district does not want to increase class sizes and is not in a position to hire additional teachers to compensate.
High School Principal Jake Bruner briefly discussed the first year of Senior Projects in the district. Those projects are a requirement for graduation. Bruner said there would be some “tweaking” to make the projects more career-based.
“Our students did a fantastic job,” Bruner said. “In the future it will be more directed towards a career path for our students and where they want to go.”
Athletics Director David Sheldon told the board softball coach Chuck Huggins will receive the OHSAA Sportsmanship and Integrity Award at the state tournament in Akron.
The board also accepted resignations from classroom aide Sally Johns, elementary secretary Gerri Ujvari, and Assistant to the Psychologist Deb Wiseman. In turn the board approved a contract for Jim Klenk to replace Wiseman. Zach Bauer was also hired as a full-time art teacher.
In other action, the board approved school fees and cafeteria prices for next year. Cafeteria prices will be the same as this year and fees will have few if any changes.
The board adjourned into executive session for the purpose of negotiations.