Dr. Zerbe and Mr. Bricker, Business Director, presented a number of fiscal recommendations including use of the Capital Reserve fund, the use of Shannondell escrow funds, and an update on our current status of preparing the 2022-2023 budget.

Dr. Zerbe recommended that the Board consider funding recurring capital matters such as boilers and chillers, cooling towers, roofs, hot water heaters, athletic fields, security systems, vehicles, paving, and grounds equipment (as examples) through this fund rather than borrowing money. The concept is to establish a Board policy that would outline the contribution annually from the General Fund budget to the Capital Reserve budget that will serve to fund these matters long term and reduce the overall costs to taxpayers by eliminating fees and interest associated with borrowing. We know we have these things to take care of and we simply need to commit to a plan and a policy that can help the administration, current and future Board’s to maintain this appropriate fiduciary responsibility. To learn more about the recommendation, see presentation here.

Mr. Bricker provided an update on the current status of the 2022-2023 budget preparation. The presentation is showing a 2.83% tax increase which, as Dr. Zerbe explained, is going to be lower – closer to 2.2 % – due to the fact that we just received our final healthcare and prescription costs among a few other updates. The Board will be voting on the proposed final budget at the May 18, 2022 meeting with the final budget adoption scheduled for approval on June 21, 2022.

Dr. Walsh shared that this budget includes the addition of 3 staff specifically targeted at supporting a 3-year plan to address math instruction K-12. Dr. Walsh explained that as part of the K-12 Math curriculum-cycle process, math coaches will work with teachers through lesson modeling, best practices and pedagogy as well as support the pilot and final text adoptions in year one and two of the plan. These additional coaches will also help provide consistency in delivery along with common assessments across the department. Our primary goal is to increase student proficiency in math. To see additional information on the budget update see presentation here.