The Waynesville R-VI School District is getting ready for the new school year and carrying over more than $300,000 in leftover federal Stimulus funds.
Dr. Susan Gettys, assistant superintendent of the Waynesville School District, said the district received $445,203 in federal Stimulus funds last year. The funds, which were a one-time payment from the federal government, go to a variety of programs throughout the district aimed at providing support for struggling students, such as the Parent And Child Education program or PACE.
“We were very careful about how we spent all of our money this year,” Gettys said. “One of the things that I would like to do with a portion of that carry-over money is to put more of that money towards our districts salaries.”
Gettys recommended some of the leftover funds be used to support the addition of two Parents As Teachers positions, which had been previously cut because of a loss in funding. The Parents As Teachers program, or PAT, is a family education and support program that helps develop parental skills for those with children age 5 and under. The Board of Education accepted and approved this recommendation.
Gettys said the leftover funds should allow the district to maintain salaries of the two positions for two years, but after they would need to reevaluate.
Gettys said with the carry-over funds, the district's full budget for federal programs for the next school year is $1.2 million.
Gettys also recommended the board postpone the purchase of new social studies textbooks and instructional materials for at least one year. The social studies curriculum was revised last year and new textbooks and materials were planned to be purchased this year. Gettys said it would be more prudent of the board to postpone the purchase to prepare for potential state budget cuts. She estimated the cost of new books and materials to be between $250,000 and $300,000.
The board accepted and approved this recommendation, however board members Herman Blau and Dorsey Newcomb opposed it.
“It would be easy with this to get behind the curve and then you're using outdated materials always,” Blau said.
The board also approved a new three-year lease with Apple computers for 180 Macbooks and 245 iMacs. The lease, which would begin July 2011, has an annual payment of $131,770. Though the first payment would not be made until July 2011, the district would receive the equipment next month.
In other business, the Board of Education discussed some confusion about a no F policy with student athletes and other students participating in extracurricular activities during the study session before the regular meeting.
Josh Scott, district director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, said the policy, which states a student participating in extracurricular activities can not receive a failing grade and participate the following semester, has created some confusion among faculty and staff. Scott said he was looking for guidance from the board to clarify the policy and make sure everyone is operating on the same page.
Serious discussion among board members showed pride in the no F policy, but no action was taken to clarify the guidelines.
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The Waynesville R-VI School District is getting ready for the new school year and carrying over more than $300,000 in leftover federal Stimulus funds.
Dr. Susan Gettys, assistant superintendent of the Waynesville School District, said the district received $445,203 in federal Stimulus funds last year. The funds, which were a one-time payment from the federal government, go to a variety of programs throughout the district aimed at providing support for struggling students, such as the Parent And Child Education program or PACE.
“We were very careful about how we spent all of our money this year,” Gettys said. “One of the things that I would like to do with a portion of that carry-over money is to put more of that money towards our districts salaries.”
Gettys recommended some of the leftover funds be used to support the addition of two Parents As Teachers positions, which had been previously cut because of a loss in funding. The Parents As Teachers program, or PAT, is a family education and support program that helps develop parental skills for those with children age 5 and under. The Board of Education accepted and approved this recommendation.
Gettys said the leftover funds should allow the district to maintain salaries of the two positions for two years, but after they would need to reevaluate.
Gettys said with the carry-over funds, the district's full budget for federal programs for the next school year is $1.2 million.
Gettys also recommended the board postpone the purchase of new social studies textbooks and instructional materials for at least one year. The social studies curriculum was revised last year and new textbooks and materials were planned to be purchased this year. Gettys said it would be more prudent of the board to postpone the purchase to prepare for potential state budget cuts. She estimated the cost of new books and materials to be between $250,000 and $300,000.
The board accepted and approved this recommendation, however board members Herman Blau and Dorsey Newcomb opposed it.
“It would be easy with this to get behind the curve and then you're using outdated materials always,” Blau said.
The board also approved a new three-year lease with Apple computers for 180 Macbooks and 245 iMacs. The lease, which would begin July 2011, has an annual payment of $131,770. Though the first payment would not be made until July 2011, the district would receive the equipment next month.
In other business, the Board of Education discussed some confusion about a no F policy with student athletes and other students participating in extracurricular activities during the study session before the regular meeting.
Josh Scott, district director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, said the policy, which states a student participating in extracurricular activities can not receive a failing grade and participate the following semester, has created some confusion among faculty and staff. Scott said he was looking for guidance from the board to clarify the policy and make sure everyone is operating on the same page.
Serious discussion among board members showed pride in the no F policy, but no action was taken to clarify the guidelines.
