By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The seat on the Crestline School District’s Board of Education left vacant by Ric Cochran’s resignation was filled with a familiar face Thursday night. Former member Jeff Wilhite was appointed to the position.
Wilhite, who had previously served on the board for two terms which ended in 2013, was approved unanimously by the current school board and sworn in by school district treasurer Bradd Stevens.
Wilhite explained what he hopes to gain out of his second go round on the board.
“I was on the board not quite nine months ago, so I hope to continue where we left off,” Willhite said. “I just hope to work with this board to continue Crestline’s success into the future.”
“I am excited to have Jeff Willhite back on the board,” Superintendent Noreen Mullens said.
During the meeting Tom Clutter was voted to replace Cochran as board vice president.
Stevens delivered his five-year forecast to the board. In Stevens’ forecast he noted that the trend of the school’s expenditures exceeding revenue was going to continue. Stevens noted that one of the major issues for the expenditure-to-revenue gap was from purchased services.
“Purchased services such as community school, and open enrollment have flat lined, and are not projected to increase, but decrease,” Stevens said. “We are still spending for those services, and the levy is to help cover it.”
Another big money taker from the school according to Stevens was health insurance which received a 12-percent increase from the past fiscal year. Stevens mentioned trying to seek other insurance agencies.
At the current pace, by 2018 the district could mired in red ink to the point where the state will step in and declare the district in fiscal emergency according to Stevens.
The board agreed to table a vote on a negotiated contract with the Crestline Education Association until a special meeting at 5:30 Monday evening.
In Crestline High School Principal Paul Wheeler’s report to the school he said that the School Will Not Fail program has been a positive for the students.
“The kids are being held to higher standards. Instead of settling for a zero on a missed subject they have to make up everything in a course until they receive a C or higher in the class,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said that the school has a learning center open to students making up subject material Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through the week.
PTO representative Casey Wollard gave an update to the Crestline Board of Education. In her report Wollard said that she feels that the PTO is headed in the right direction.
“So far we have raised $100 for the art department through face painting at the football games. We will be continuing the face painting during the basketball season to raise money for the Music Department.”