Chrisman School Board discusses FY23
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The Chrisman School Board held their monthly meeting on June 13th, 2022. The meeting began with the approval of the previous meeting minutes, along with financial matters that included imprest fund reimbursement in the amount of $5,005.84.
End of the year activities for the elementary school included 4th Quarter Honors Assembly on May 27th. Fun Day was sponsored by the Chrisman PTO on May 31st. “I want to give a huge thank you to the custodial crew for their hard work cleaning at rearranging rooms at the elementary school,” said Principal Kelly Schluter.
Additional cameras are set to be installed at the elementary school once a quote is received by Becktech. The new buses that were approved for a lease will be arriving over the summer in preparation for the school year.
At the Junior High/High School level, no interest has been shown for the current Computer/Business vacancy, causing the district to think about what Plan B might look like. ‘I’d like the Board to consider using Proximity Learning, a live online teaching platform, to supply instruction for these areas next year if no teacher emerges,” said Principal Cole Huber.
Using this program would cut down, being that the only classes offered would be Intro to Business and Computer Concepts. Yearbook would still be offered by the Art Teacher.
If the board decides to move forward with the arrangement, the board would put a one year ‘waiver’ on the graduation requirement that Freshmen/Sophomores must take one of these classes and Juniors and this year’s Seniors must have a computer credit in order to graduate.
Doing the waiver, this would ensure that no one is forced to take an online class that is an elective for only those who are interested in this subject. A decision would need to be made by the July meeting.
Currently, three students are enrolled in the LIFT program for next year. However, two of the students are wavering due to gas prices. After doing some calculations, it would cost one student around $4,000 in gas for a year, driving to Mattoon and back.
Huber had been in discussions with Ms. Pullen and they came up with a couple of options to keep the students in the program. One of the suggestions was to provide transportation for the students as the Shiloh School District does. With the lack of drivers, this may not be a possibility.
Another idea was to subsidize the students’ gas payments, in conjunction with other groups such as the Academic Boosters, Community Club and others. This way, students’ payments at the pump are being helped, but no one group takes on the large amount. This is another decision that would have to be made by the July meeting.
The June Sales Tax Revenue for school facilities for the district was $10,638.65 for a continued average of over $10,000 per month. The CEA and the Board team have continued to work towards a new contract. “Several items have been agreed to and the two sides are fairly close regarding salary considerations. We may have a finalized contract for the Board to approve at the July meeting,” said Superintendent James Acklin.
As discussed at the May meeting, there were both revenues and expenditures that were not anticipated when the original budget was approved last September. The changes are due in large part to COVID revenue and expenditures, as well as revenue from the bond sale. The board approved the FY22 amended budget as presented.
Renewal Rates from Bushue HR were received in time for the meeting. The total premium represents an increase of almost $11,000, over 22 percent from FY22. “We are told this is due to the overall “hardening” of the insurance market, as well as an increase in our property values, work comp payrolls and treasurer bond amount,” said Acklin. The board approved the insurance renewal quote. Board meeting dates were also set for the FY23.
Recently, the school board received a batch of suggested policy updates from PRESS, an IASB’s customized full maintenance policy update service for schools that have completed an ISAB Policy Manual Customization.
The updates include the following rewritten policy, revised policy, or policy that is due for a five year review.
Policies are: 7:285 Anaphylaxis, Response, and Management Program; 2:230 Public Participation at School Board Meetings; 4:70 Resource Conservation; 5:80 Court Duty; 6:80 Teaching About Controversial Issues; 6:290 Homework; 7:15 Student and Family Privacy Rights; 7:270 Administering Medicines to Students; 3:70 Succession of Authority; 5:110 Recognition for Services; 5:240 Suspension; 5:70 Religious Holidays; 6:140 Education of Homeless Children; 6:330 Achievement and Awards & 6:70 Teaching About Religions.
