The building is open and the bill is paid.
That is one outtake from the May 18 meeting of the Sturgeon R-V Board of Education.
Sturgeon R-V students with their Academic Achievement certificates at the recent Sturgeon High School Academic Awards banquet.
The board unanimously voted to pay McKinstry, the firm that managed the design and construction of the district’s new Vo-Ag/Weight Toom building, the final $20,277 for their work.
The board also oversaw some district personnel changes.
They bid farewell to three retirees: Lynn Truesdell – 38 years, Susie Hesser – 20 years and Betsy Ellis – four years.
Board members also unanimously accepted the resignations of Nick Dorethy who taught middle school math and Samantha Riley, who taught high school science.
They also voted to offer a one-year contract to Jesse Stewart for the position of K-8 assistant principal.
In another personnel-related move, they voted to accept a new non-certified personnel salary schedule submitted by Sturgeon R-V Superintendent of Schools Meila Franklin. That discussion included continuing district-paid life and health insurance, an increase in the athletic budget and a possible addition of $500 to the certified personnel salary base.
Franklin explained the athletics increase to the Centralia Fireside Guard: “Within the athletics budget, there are several sub categories. Athletics Purchase Services was increased from $3300 to $6000 and Athletics General supplies was increased from $4600 to $8500.
According to the meeting’s draft minutes, Franklin said “The district will see savings in the area of on-line class tuition fees and possibly salaries/benefits due to retirements and other staff shifts.”
She also reminded the board that there would be less government reimbursement for summer-school meals and the district would receive less funding for the “Seamless Summer,” Option than it had in the previous two years.
During her budget review Franklin broke down the district’s revenue sources for the upcoming year: “Revenues: 54 percent local taxes, 36 percent state funds, 10 percent federal funds, Pearson is a guaranteed $70,000 plus two percent of all enrollments, transportation will be fully funded for the first time since 1991, ESSER III funds available total $1.7 million, grants: Grow Your Own and Recruit and Retain.” Afterward she gave some specific amounts: “Of course those numbers fluctuate based on tax collection; however, we estimated local $2,817,272.97, county $180,880.00, state $1,927,151.71, and federal $591,780.”
Franklin also supplied the Fireside Guard with some expense estimates: “Certified staff salaries: $2,251,489.17; Classified staff: $532,936.29 (down significantly due to outsourcing custodial services)
Transportation: $243,079.66; Food Service: $79,100, not including salaries.”
In other business, board members voted to:
• Sign a $1,150 per month,, one-year contract with Advantage Equipment for copier services
• Advertise for separate bids for the district’s 2022-23 mowing and brush-cutting services
• Enter a $70 per hour, contract with Brett Therapy Services for occupational therapy services for the 2022-23 school year
• Enter a $17.50 per quarter hour, contract with Burton Therapy Services for physical therapy services for the 2022-23 school year.
• Enter a $75 per hour contract with TheraTree SLP for speech services for the 2022-23 school year.
The meeting included the building administrators’ monthly reports.
In the high school report, SHS Principal Jen Campbell said AJ Young was SHS grade 9/10 student of the month and Kaleb Vaughn was the 11/12 student of the month for April and May. She also said 80 students were recognized for academic achievement during SHS’ May 17 Academic Awards Banquet and the Senior parade was held May 12.
In K-5 Principal Jeff Carr’s report he announced summer school will run June 1 through June 28, Monday – Friday. Classes run 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m. He said breakfast and lunch will be free to all students.
Carr said 155 students are currently enrolled in summer school. He gave the enrollment by grade: K – 21, first-grade – 21, second – 23, third – 24, fourth – 16, fifth – 12, sixth – 17, seventh – 10, eighth – five, and in grades nine through 12, six.
