BASCOM - Hopewell-Loudon officials met with a group of citizens Wednesday evening for an address on the state of the school.
Veronica Reinhart, board treasurer, reviewed the financial state of the district. The district has benefited from state and federal programs in the amount of $678,000 in the past two years. These programs were used to replace general fund dollars; however, the programs were discontinued and the funds are gone. The tangible personal property tax has been reduced from $520,000 to $255,000 in the past three years.
On the income side, Reinhart said the new farmland valuation has increased 48 percent. Casino income could amount to $16,000 next year.
Now, open enrollment brings in $1.6 million, Reinhart said. Most classes have reached maximum size, so increasing open enrollment is not an option for increased revenue. The state foundation formula has yet to be announced and a new budget bill is to be determined this summer.
"I can't give a five-year projection; I can't even predict next year's budget," she said in conclusion.
Income tax funds are directly transferred to the bond repayment.
The construction of the new building is "on" - it's on schedule and on budget, Superintendent Nicole Jiran said. Move-in is scheduled for the last week of May. No date has been for the auction of old furnishings.
Jiran showed how the district is working to improve the average yearly progress and value added measured on the state report card.
An update to Progress Book is to enable daily communication between instructors and parents.
The third-grade reading guarantee is to go into effect this school year. If a third grader does not score "limited" on the third-grade level, he or she is to be retained in the third grade and assigned to a specially qualified reading teacher, Jiran said. "It is a fluid law" as it is constantly being changed, she added.
Ohio Department of Education is requiring a new teacher evaluation system to be implemented next year and new core curriculum and digital testing system to be in place by 2014.
The drug-testing policy for athletes is to be voted on by the board in November. Jiran emphasized it is to be a preventive program.
