Dale Board of Education members this week hired a new high school principal, four elementary teachers and accepted the resignation of another.
On the recommendation of School Supt. Will Jones, the board members hired Erick Muncy as high school principal for the 2023-2024 school year.
Muncy comes to Dale from the AmPo School District. He and his family were introduced to the board during Monday night’s meeting.
Current High School Principal J.D. Widner recently submitted his resignation effective the end of the school year.
Following about a 30-minute executive session, the board members returned to open meeting. Elementary School Principal Tamee Daniel recommended the hiring of new teachers Laketa Ille, fourth grade, Gracie Pipes, third grade, Jordan Knutson, second grade and Allison Nichols, first grade.
Board members approved hiring each of them.
They also accepted the resignation of Leslie Havlicek.
Daniel, in her report, stated enrollment stands at 353 students, an increase over last month.
“We’ll have three classes of every grade next year and two Pre-K classes,” she informed the board.
Middle School Principal Kim Powell reported enrollment of 262 students and advised the board she is interviewing for a fifth grade math teacher position.
She also informed the board that Michelle Edmonson has been selected as Secondary Teacher of the Year and Amber Parker has been chosen Elementary Teacher of the Year. One of those two will be honored as District Teacher of the Year on April 26 as will a Support Staff Person of the Year which is a new honor, she said.
The board approved using county sales tax money to purchase Chromebook storage charging carts. Jones said there will be 13 charging stations that can charge 36 at a time. He said cost is $12,908.
Jones provided board members with revenue comparisons between March of this year and March of 2022.
As of March of 2023, warrants have totaled $3,969,988 and as of March of 2022 the figure was $3,858,942 which is $111,046 more than a year ago.
He said the building fund cash balance in March of this year stood at $177,148. In March of 2022, it totaled $108,166 which is up $68,982.
Jones pointed to the district’s General Fund cash balance in March 2023 which was $987,889 and in March of 2022 it totaled $949,407. That is an increase of $38,482 over the same month in 2022.
State aid received as of March this year was $2,198,058. In March of 2022 it was $2,182,278. That amount is $15,780 more than in March of a year ago.
The County Education sales tax balance was $544,495 in March of 2023 and in March of 2022 it stood at $425,339 an increase of $119,156. Jones pointed out March’s county sales tax check was $30,480.
He advised the board 2022-2023 Esser III funds are $452,834.