DUKE CENTER — The Otto-Eldred school board passed the 2017-18 budget at their meeting Tuesday evening –– with no tax increase.
The budget was passed with a $612,000 deficit, which was reduced from the preliminary budget. Considering a $300,000 capital fund transfer is included in that amount, the anticipated impact on fund balance would be no more than $312,000. The 2016-17 budget was passed with a similar deficit, however, only about $50,000 in fund balance is anticipated to be used.
In other news, the board approved the creation of a curriculum director position. This person will oversee implementation and development of district curriculum as well as serve as the district assessment coordinator. The board then approved the appointment of Melissa Merry to the post, from her current position as instructional coach / data liaison. The position will begin July 1.
Meanwhile, the board moved to approve an updated cost for AEDY (Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth) services through Beacon Light at Custer City. With the anticipated closing of Bridgeport Academy, a new in-house intervention program was also approved. This program will be run with current staff, during the school day with the goal of dropout prevention.
A number of policy updates were approved along with approval of a few new policies. Within the new cafeteria management policy, delinquent lunch account procedures were approved. The policy contains a provision for sending delinquent accounts to a collection agency. Additionally, students may not attend prom or homecoming with a negative lunch balance.
The extracurricular participation policy was updated to clarify what is permissible for students that would like to participate in dual sports as well as update procedures for students riding home with parents. Parents will now be required to sign off in front of coach when taking their child from events, along with submitting a permission slip in advance to the high school office the morning of the event. Any dual sport students will need to chose a primary and secondary sport, and then submit plan for participation to principal at start of the season.
In staffing and supplemental positions, Nicole Cochran was approved as the new elementary learning support teacher. Kirsten Perry will serve as a long-term substitute for 3rd grade and the long term substitute for kindergarten has yet to be placed.
Resignations were accepted from technology specialist, Brendon Miller and from elementary principal, Ryan McGinnis, who will be accepting a position at BOCES.
