9/20/2012 - West Side Leader
     

During the Sept. 17 meeting, the Highland Local Schools Board of Education approved annual appropriations for the 2013 fiscal year totaling nearly $33 million, with around $22 million from the General Fund.

Within the General Fund, $7.9 million is allocated for regular instruction, with an additional $3 million set for special, vocational and other instruction. Support services take up $4.8 million from the General Fund. Pupil transportation was appropriated at $1.8 million.

Including the General Fund, the 27 different funds that make up the list of appropriations each have a specific purpose prescribed by the State Auditor’s Office, noted Treasurer Neil Barnes.

Among the other funds, the largest is the Emergency Levy Fund, where $4.1 million is appropriated.

District spending is at the same level as in the 2009 fiscal year, according to Barnes.

Ohio school districts are required to approve an annual appropriations measure prior to Oct. 1, he noted. Next month, he plans to present the board with the district’s five-year forecast, he added.

In other business, the board:

• amended the 2012-13 petty cash/change account guidelines to increase the maximum allowable single disbursement amount from $100 to $150 for the Athletic Department;

• congratulated the girls varsity tennis team for winning the Suburban League Tennis Tournament and the girls golf team for being named Suburban League champions;

• recognized high school students David Back, Ian Alred, Mark Komvies and Ryan Wilbur for completing Eagle Scout projects;

• approved a high school choir trip to the Nashville Belmont University Music Clinic April 10-13, 2013, to be paid for by students at no cost to the district;

• accepted the consent and release from Medina City Schools to transport a student to St. Hilary School. Jim Reusch, supervisor of operations, noted the student gets on the bus at one of Highland’s regular stops to be transported to St. Hilary. It does not cost the district anything to transport the student, nor does the district receive any reimbursement, he added;

• accepted donations, including a clarinet from Ed Neimeier to the high school band; $500 from Angela Gasser DDS LLC and $100 from Wissel’s Auto Repair to the high school speech and debate team; and $5,563 from Dr. Richard and Lindsay Limperos for the printing of the annual report and district calendars; and $275 from the Limperos’ for refreshments for opening day; and

• approved contracts with Environmental Design Group for a land survey and wetland delineation. Superintendent Catherine Aukerman said the two contracts are related to the proposed athletic complex the Highland Foundation is working on and needed as a precursor to conceptual drawings for the project.

The next regular meeting is set for Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Highland High School Media Center, 4150 Ridge Road.

• Norton district planning for building project
• Highland teachers experienced Chinese education
• Revere updating policies
• West Side Education News & Notes
• Manchester board installs new member
• Norton district planning for building project
• Coventry High School students recognized