CENTERBURG — Centerburg saw an increase of approximately $50,000 in its bank account from 2020 to 2021.
Centerburg Local Schools district treasurer Lori Houck presented the five-year forecast at Monday night’s board of education meeting. In addition, superintendent Mike Hebenthal presented data on school expenses looking back several years.
The district has $4.929 million in 2020 and $4.978 million in 2021, according to data presented Monday.
In terms of what can be expected next year and years to come, Houck cautioned that some funds will be added. Specifically, the district did not have percentage salary raises in fiscal year 2021, and it will this year.
Additionally, the district had used wellness funds to pay social workers last year, which came from the Department of Education (a separate fund that is not part of the general fund). That will change this year, however, and will be included in the money coming from the foundation and salaries.
— Per United States Department of Agriculture requirements, food service director Lauren Davis also spoke during public participation to inform the board and administrators that Centerburg is regularly meeting Ohio Department of Education/USDA nutrition standards.
Davis, who has a chef background and has worked in healthcare for the past 10 years, joined Centerburg’s nutrition staff this school year. She specializes in complex diets and allergies. Davis shared that the elementary school will soon start a tasting program to encourage students to try new foods.
As is the case with other schools, and other industries at large, cafeteria staff is facing issues because of supply chain disruptions.
“It comes in waves, like potatoes were a problem and now those are back,” Davis said. “We’re having trouble with chicken now, and paper products are a huge thing. I’ve been driving all over the state to find trays, boxes, cups and stuff.”
Davis has also made trips to the local Sam’s Club for products, she said.
The Department of Agriculture has given schools more flexibility to meet nutritional guidelines since the pandemic began, and more recently this fall issued a waiver that prevents schools from facing financial repercussions for failing to meet guidelines, specifically because of supply chain issues.
— Staffing issues were also a topic of discussion Monday, specifically bus drivers.
The board approved the resignation of bus driver Jauna Burke (effective Nov. 3) as well as bus driver Susan Moore (effective Dec. 3). However, the board approved a few substitute bus drivers — Paul Shaver and Sandy DiGuilio — and a one-year classified bus driver contract for Sonja Hendrickson.
During the meeting, Hebenthal said the district was down two drivers and was in the process of training one driver, which will take at least a few months.
“We are struggling like everybody else with drivers,” Hebenthal said.
The district would consider consolidating bus routes, therefore increasing student time on buses, if needed.
“We don’t want to do that,” Hebenthal said. “We’re going to do everything we can not to do that.”
The board also accepted numerous donations Monday, including donations valued at a total of more than $3,000 to the athletic fund in memory of Linda Gates, who drove school buses for 45 years for the Centerburg School District. Gates died in early October 2021. More specifically, people made the following donations in Gates’ memory:
$50 from Rodney and Lori Houck.
$20 from Sandra Petry.
$100 from Tom and Patty Hartley.
$20 from Tom and Kathy Noblit.
$100 from Bill Shuff.
$125 anonymous.
$50 from anonymous.
$100 from Vicki Higgins.
$100 from Great Lakes Truck Centers.
$50 from Benjamin and Leah Branford.
$50 from Richard and Deborah Kennedy.
$50 from Becky Smith.
$400 from CABC Line Drive Club to 300 Athletic Fund.
Basketball uniforms valued at $2,301.90 from Rusty Griffith.
Other donations include books purchased at the elementary book fair (valued at $1,953.72) from the elementary parent teacher organization to elementary classroom teachers; $500 from Animal Station to the Athletic 300 fund; and two from Old Time Farming Festival — $83.10 to Ohio Scholars Association and $250 to FFA.
The board approved additional club sports for the current school year — indoor track and swimming — as well as renewed its purple star designation, which recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to the U.S. military.
— In other business, representatives spoke about the use of the district’s Intensive Care Unit program, which was implemented this school year to track missing assignments.
— Regarding upcoming renovations, the board approved the rankings of requests for quotation submitted for the board of education/preschool building.
Fanning Howey is ranked first followed by Legat Architects and then HAWA. Centerburg’s school board heard a presentation from Fanning Howey during its July board meeting. Subsequently, the board approved the superintendent to enter into negotiations for engineering and design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades to the board of education/preschool building.
Hebenthal also presented the 2022-23 school year calendar, which the board will vote on next month. One-year supplemental contracts for numerous sports coaches, event coordinators, music staff were also approved by the board Monday.
