Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

The Staunton Board of Education held their monthly meeting on Aug. 21, and approved the purchase of two used school buses with air conditioning from Midwest Transit Equipment in the amount of $197,342. The buses are in good condition and have low mileage. With this addition in transportation, the board approved a Multi-District Shared Transportation Agreement for the current school year with Gillespie and Mount Olive School Districts. This will allow all three school districts to share services in transporting special education students to various locations.

The board also recognized and praised senior student Riley Stipcak for finishing his Eagle Scout Project over the summer and repairing all of the backboards on the elementary playground. He spent many hours repairing the backboards, adding the terrier logo, then finishing by installing new basketball nets.

Superintendent Brett Allen provided a student enrollment update and informed the Board that there are 1,176 students enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year. Allen then informed the Board that the switchgear project was completed, the chiller replacement project has been accomplished, the 2022 maintenance grant projects have been finalized, the new security camera system has been installed, the parking lots have been resurfaced and lined, and that there is a delay in the installation of the wheelchair lift for the high school due to supply issues.

Next, Allen then reported that school district staff were excited to welcome all students back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 16. The Superintendent thanked all of the support personnel for their dedication to students and for ensuring the building and grounds were ready, that meals were prepared, buses were rolling, and students had their devices online and working for this school year. The board was then informed that on Aug. 15, all of the staff had the opportunity to listen to keynote speaker, Brian Mendler, who presented on the importance of building positive relationships with students and using that as part of the process in ensuring academic growth.

The district's Educational Services Administrator, Steven Moore, reported that with the assistance of central office staff, he has been completing required reports, such as the site-based expenditure report. Additionally, Moore reported that he is working on multiple grant opportunities, including the Greenlights Safety Initiative and the Safe Route to School Grant in cooperation with the City of Staunton. Finally, he discussed the current investments the district has and the interest income earned. Moore provided a brief explanation that return rates are good at the present time; however, it is not projected that this continues long term.

Board member, Clayton Green, provided a brief Policy Committee update related to Press Policy Update 112. In general, the policies being updated involved slight language adjustments and legal reference updates. Also, Allen discussed changes to the policy that dictates leave for year round employees and adusting it to be consistent with language for other employee groups. This was the first reading for these policies while the second reading and approval process will take place in Sept.

Allen conducted a presentation regarding the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2024, where reportedly the fund balances are in a good standing and estimated revenues and expenditures that are currently being projected show a balanced budget to end the upcoming fiscal year. The tentative budget for public display was approved and the board set the budget hearing for Sept. 25, at 6:45 p.m. in the school library.

A motion to approve the purchase of a new Toro Z Master lawn mower from Nail's Power Equipment via MTI Distributing was approved in the amount of $12,430 after trading in two pieces of surplus equipment. Also, in order to stay competitive, the board approved a $10 increase in compensation for junior high school umpires for both baseball and softball for the current school year. The board of Education also announced the hiring of Steve Martin as a bus driver trainee/bus driver pending licensure.

A Strategic Planning Session is being scheduled for Sept. 18, and that information would be shared with families relatively soon. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, Sept. 25.