The Northmor Board of Education was breathing a sigh of relief with Treasurer Tammi L. Cowell’s fiscal report at Thursday night’s regular board meeting.
Cowell said upon closing out the fiscal year, the district ‘ended up a little better than we thought,” with about $90,000 more than what was anticipated.
“We were able to stay in the black.”
Cowell prepared an update financial forecast that showed a 4.8% increase over the next two years. Northmor was spared some of the cuts dealt to other schools by the state budget, she noted, and there are still numbers to come in from the auditor about the FY14 audit and some personnel decisions to be made.
“But this gives us a lot better picture of where we are and where we’re going,” Cowell said. “It looks a lot better based on the RIF (reduction in force) we did in May, and with the money we’ll have coming in from the state, I feel good about saying to the taxpayers we can stay off the ballot, at least for the next couple of years.”
In spite of the numbers pointing to deficit spending in 2018, Cowell felt they may be able to hold the deficit off longer. Though finances do not currently support a 60-day carryover of funds (as desired by the auditor) she said they are making progress and she is being conservative in her numbers.
“For me, it’s encouraging,” said Supt. Chad Redmon, “to see the state is going to give us slightly over $200,000 in next year’s budget and $230,000 in the second year. It isn’t a substantial amount of money in our budget, but it helps.”
In other considerations, the board:
– Approved the Whetstone River Family & Children’s Center Contract for the 2015-2016 school year for preschool services.
– Lunch prices remain the same as last year for all grades.
– Authorized the Metropolitan Educational Council(MEC) to advertise and receive bids on said Board’s behalf as per the specifications submitted for the cooperative purchase of two (2)-71 passenger conventional school bus(es).
– Approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with John Smith as presented and authorize payment in the amount of $2,284.48 and approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Versa Westbrook as presented and authorize payment in the amount of $19,890.88. This was money owed to them for services previously rendered.
– Approved the shared services contract with Highland Local Schools for the Preschool Coordinator for the 2015-2016 school.
The board approved the following cafeteria personnel to attend the Rightway Food Show in Lima, Ohio on August 4, 2015 and authorize payment at the hourly rate per each person for 6 hours for the day: Nikki Morrison, Nina Miley, Vicki Brubaker, Diane Murray, Sandy Schaffer, Dayle Lambert, Kathy Pierson, Sherry Weimer, Julie Vanderkooi, Kate Robbins and Ashley Bowersmith.
The same eleven employees were approved to attend a Professional Development training at Highland High School on August 12, 2015.
Employment
Approved Employment Recommendations for the 2015-2016 school year: Chad Carver as a Junior High Football Coach; Brice Trimble as a Junior High Football Coach; enter into a Personal Services Contract with Rita Neal to transport a student with special needs to the Ohio School for the Deaf; enter into a Personal Services Contract with Angie Rockhold to transport a student with special needs to Cardington Lincoln Local Schools; recognize Kellie Wright as a volunteer assistant coach in the Junior High Volleyball program; employ Caitlyn Horning as a teacher on a one year contract (replacing Karly Watterson upon her resignation); Alexandria Brewer as teacher in the capacity of a long-term substitute; recognized Ryan Hostetler as a volunteer assistant football coach; and terminate the employment of Lowell Dean Van Horn as the Bus Mechanic effective July 16, 2015.
The next regular Board Meeting will be on August 20th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room.
Reach Randa Wagner at 419-946-3010, ext. 1803 or on Twitter@MorrCoSentinel.
