Grundy R-5, Princeton, Newtown-Harris Boards Close Out 2020-21 Budget Years

The Grundy R-5, Princeton R-5 and Newtown-Harris boards of education all held special meetings this week to take action on budget issues.
Grundy R-5
The Grundy R-5 Board of Education approved a budget with a slight surplus during a special meeting held Tuesday evening.
According to Superinten-dent Phil Fox, the board amended the 2020-21 budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues for the year. Actual expenditures were $2,430,737 and actual revenues were $2,488,803, leaving a surplus of $58,066. A transfer of $162,000 from Fund 1, the operating fund, to Fund 4, capital projects, was approved.
As for the 2021-22 budget, the board approved preliminary figures that show revenues of $2,484,449 and expenditures of $2,484,170, leaving a surplus of $279.
Fox said the board held an executive session, with no announcement made.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 13.
Princeton R-5
Employees in the Princeton R-5 School District will see pay increases following action taken Tuesday night at a special meeting of the board which also included the approval of the 2021-22 budget.
According to information provided by Board Secretary Christy Stockman, the board “zeroed out” the activity accounts and approved the amendment of the 2020-21 budget to reflect actual revenues and expenditures. Revenues received during the year were $5,267,529, with expenditures of $5,157,254, for a surplus budget of $110,275. Funds 1 and 2 actually saw a surplus of $72,380, which resulted in a slight increase for the district’s Reserve Fund. The unrestricted reserve balance for the district is now 36.77 percent.
The 2021-22 budget was also approved, which shows revenues of $5,100,579 and expenditures of $4,966,993, for a projected surplus of $133,586.
Board members approved an increase in the certified staff salary schedule, with the new base set at $31,500, which is a $500 (1.61 percent) increase from the previous schedule. Non-certified staff will receive a raise, with step one being set at $12.25. A 1.61 percent increase was also approved for the superintendent, elementary principal and high school principal. Bus drivers will also receive the same 1.61 percent salary increase, which is $63 per day and $12.25 per hour for activity trips.
Following a closed session, the board accepted the resignation of Mrs. Stockman and the resignation of the girls assistant basketball coach, Betsy McCulley.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 12.
Newtown-Harris
The Newtown-Harris R-2 Board of Education approved a new salary schedule, accepted bids and approved a hiring during a meeting held Monday at school.
According to information provided by Superintendent Dr. Lucas McKinnis, the board approved a new salary schedule for certified staff, which gave additional steps to certified staff and a 2 percent raise to classified staff. The board also formalized the practice for non-certified staff members.
Board members accepted a bid from Jamesport Roofing for the roof at the elementary school. The bid was for $9,100. Bids were also accepted from Anderson-Erickson Dairy for dairy products and MFA for diesel, propane and gas.
In other business, the board adjusted the FY21 budget to reflect actual revenues and expenditures and transfered $162,025.20 from Fund I, to Fund 2 and $38,000 from Fund 1 to Fund 4.
Following an executive session, the board voted to contract with Kim Knight for speech language pathologist services and discussed staff issues related to hiring.
The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for July 12.