Bellefontaine City Schools Treasurer Josh Wasson presented the district’s five-year forecast Monday evening, Nov. 13, during the regular board of education meeting.
Superintendent Brad Hall said he was pleased with with the current state of the budget when compared with what was projected last year.
“A year ago at this time, we were projecting nearly $1.8 million in deficit spending this school year,” he said. “We put cost-savings measures in place by analyzing every aspect of what we do in the district and we saw an increase in funding that enabled us to reduce that $1.8 million deficit by $1.2 million.
“That was no small task, but our taxpayers expect us to be good stewards of their dollars and I believe this demonstrates that we take that responsibility very seriously.
We also know that more financial work with a deep focus will be necessary in future.”
In other financial matters, the board approved an adjustment to the secretary/LPN salary schedule. The new policy eliminates the wage gaps, creating a 30 consecutive step schedule to match the other support staff salary schedule, effective at the beginning of the 2023-24 work year calendar.
Sean Egler was approved for an extra duty stipend of $4,998 to be paid equally through the BMS+ 21st Century Grant and the BHS 21st Century Grant.
The board also approved the indoor track program to be coached by Ben Davis and Cody Sigrist.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the following resignations: Kim Allen, intervention specialist, effective Jan. 12, and Christa Murdock, first-grade, effective May 28;
• approved Madeleine Beck and Jonie Siler as home-school tutors;
• hired Mary Dillard as a food service worker;
• approved Brandon Standley as an athletic worker;
• approved Jared Bowden and Dawsin Tillman as volunteer coaches, Bowden will assist with the high school drama club. Tillman will be an assistant boys basketball coach at the middle school;
• recognized November Seniors of the Month Riley Neer and Kyndal Newkirk; they each received an achievement pin and a $15 gift card to Ron’s Pizza; and
• accepted a donation of basketballs from the Bellefontaine Parks and Recreation Foundation.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center.
