Dale School principals updated Board of Education members recently on current school enrollment numbers.
The board also voted approval of a plan using Esser III funds.
Elementary Principal Tamee Daniel advised the board there are 335 students in grades Pre-K through fourth grade.
Middle School Principal Kim Powell told board members there are 248 students in grades 5-8. “We added an Ag class serving 18 students with a mastery in Math program serving 88 students,” she said.
High School Principal J.D. Widner reported that two students, Emma Collins and Casen Richardson have been recognized by the College Board.
He informed the board there are 196 enrolled in high school to bring the district’s total enrollment to 779 compared to 786 a year ago.
Board members approved spending $46,000 of its Pottawatomie County Education sales tax funds to purchase property at First Street and Smith Avenue in Dale.
Capacity numbers were approved by the board for 2022-2023.
Academic credits with Gordon Cooper Technology Center were also approved.
A fund raiser was approved for the cheerleading squad to sell T-shirts, spirit shirts, from Sep. 23 through Oct. 3.
School Supt. Will Jones said the plan to use Esser III funds will include purchasing some ELA curriculum, to purchase a security, controlled entry stem and begin the same type of program of purchasing a Suburban four-wheel drive that is patterned after the program they’ve been successfully using to purchase an Ag truck as needed.
“We have $450,000 in Esser funds and it will take two years to spend all of that,” he advised board members.
Daniel said, “We haven’t had new curriculum since 2008.”
The board also approved hiring Carren Cantrell-Milligan effective Oct. 1 of this year.
Board members approved hiring Dallas Covell for a maintenance position.
They agreed to a contract with Stephen L. Smith Corp. as financial consultant for 2022-2023.
They approved the teacher negotiated contract for 2022-2023.
They approved using the school hour policy for the school year 2022-2023.
Jones reviewed with the board revenue comparisons of August 2021 and August 2022.
In August of 2021 warrants totaled $572,510 and in August of 2022 the figure is $608,121 which is $35,611 more.
The building fund cash balance in August of a year ago stood at $37,378. Last month it totaled $123,927 which is up $86,559.
The district’s General Fund cash balance in August of 2021 was $340,518 and in August of 2022 it totaled $405,604. That is an increase of $63,086 over a year ago.
State aid received in August of 2021 was $262,777. That is $7,946 less than the $270,723 received in August of 2022.
The County Education sales tax balance was $246,164 in August of a year ago and in August of 2022 it was $402,817, an increase of $156,653.
The board also voted, under new business, to approve policies regarding Title IX and reporting child abuse.