The Trenton R-9 Board of Education has adopted a budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year that shows expenditures outpacing revenues by just over $144,000.
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During a meeting on Tuesday night, approval was given to the budget, which goes into effect on July 1. Revenues are listed at $10,895,219 while expenditures are projected at $11,039,508, leaving a deficit of $144,289. Included in the expenditures is just over $400,000 remaining from bond proceeds that built the new addition to the Rissler Elementary School as well as paid for additions/renovations at the high school and middle school.
Superintendent Becky Albrecht noted the bond monies were included on the revenue side of last year’s budget and that the expenditure is listed in the new budget, resulting in the deficit number listed. She said a portion of those funds are earmarked for construction of a new bus barn, included in this year’s expenses.
Mrs. Albrecht said the budget is based on a projected 9 percent reduction in state aid and noted that the district will have other reductions in programs from which it receives state and federal funds. She noted additional expenditures in the budget include raises for all employees as well as an increase in insurance costs.
A special meeting was set for 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26 to close out the current year budget.
The board approved spending $41,668 to purchase 80 new band uniforms from Stanberry Uniform Co. in Brookfield. That results in a cost of $520.85 per uniform and would give the band enough uniforms for all members as well as some extras to be used for sizing purposes. Mrs. Albrecht said it has been about 10 years since new uniforms were purchased. The school district is buying the uniforms, which were designed by two band members.
The board approved application for three grants, two of which will be sought through the GEC Foundation and include $1,800 to purchase document cameras to be used in the special education classrooms and $599 for a Califone Infrared Music Maker Wireless Listening Center to be used by elementary students during literacy/intervention time. A third grant is through the Prairieland Writing Program and would allow the R-9 District to be a participating school in a grant aimed at developing a plan to improve the writing process in schools. Mrs. Albrecht said the grant would make available several thousands of dollars in professional development funding for teachers in grades five through nine.
Approval was given to the handbooks for Rissler Elementary, Trenton Middle School and Trenton High School with minimal changes. Also approved were the revisions for the A-Plus handbook. A-Plus Coordinator Kris Ockenfels gave a report on the A-Plus program, which has 286 students currently enrolled. Since the start of the program, 608 students in the R-9 School District had met the A-Plus requirements, which allows students to receive financial help if attending a public two-year higher education institution (college or vo-tech) in Missouri.
Ockenfels, in his role as activities director, also gave an activities report for the y ear, noting that THS won five district championships (girls tennis, boys and girls golf and boys and girls track), had three state champions (Kody Hill in wrestling, the girls 4×400-meter relay team and the boys 4×800-relay team) and had one individual named to a first-team all-state team, Chanel Pash in softball. He said that the first practices for fall sports can start on Aug. 6 and that all sports schedules for next year are now on the school’s website.
TMS Principal Jamie Oram said that 152 students are enrolled in summer school, which ends this Friday. Post-testing will take place on Thursday. She said that students have been taking field trips to several places in the community in an effort to learn more about where they live. She also reported that 14 students are enrolled in the summer driver’s education program at the high school.
Mrs. Albrecht reported that $65,125.80 in federal funds was spent this past year on tutoring at the elementary level for students who qualify based on the free and reduced lunch count. She said that 61 children took part in the program and while it was a worthwhile program during the year, she said minimal improvement on testing scores at the end of the school year have been seen. She said she was unsure if the funds, allocated through the No Child Left Behind legislation, would be made available this year and that there was a possibility that if the funds were available, the state could receive a waiver which would allow the district to use the funding for all children in need, regardless of income guidelines.
Director of Supportive Services Dennis Gutshall reviewed summer projects being done, including renovations at all three classroom buildings as well as new sidewalks at Rissler School and the north end of the THS vo-ag/art building. Installation of four new exterior doors at the Rissler School will complete the district-wide door and window replacement project.
An executive session was held at the end of the meeting for personnel, real estate, legal and student matters. The board voted to hire Petrea Nelson as a first grade teacher as well as Beth Gross as a cook and Angie McAtee as a paraprofessional. The resignation of cook Sandra Vencill was also accepted.
Spring sports coaching assignments were made and include Wes Croy, high school boys track; Chris Parks, high school girls track; Travis Mullenix, boys golf; David Sager, boys tennis; David Burkeybile, mascots; Mike Tipton, middle school boys track; and Amanda Pickett, middle school girls track.