BLOOMDALE – Elmwood Local Schools has a new strategic plan.
The board of education heard Superintendent Tony Borton present the plan at the May 8 meeting.
The mission of Elmwood Local Schools is to provide engaging educational pathways for students to reach their full potential and become successful members of society.
The vision is to empower all students through personalized learning experiences while building hope, trust and confidence within the Elmwood Local Schools community.
The district’s core values are to operate with accountability and integrity; prioritize opportunities that promote student growth, leadership and respect; and foster an environment thriving on open communications.
The planned strategic initiatives include developing an emotionally and physically safe learning environment; enhancing internal and external communication to build hope and trust; empowering students and staff to develop learning experiences through curriculum/coursework, community service and extra-curriculars; and guiding students to be career and/or college ready.
Board member Debbie Reynolds wanted to know at what point the staff and community were involved.
“The community really wants to be involved. Teachers are telling me they really want to be involved,” she said.
Borton said community input was taken via a survey.
Goals will be developed and reported on an ongoing basis by the internal team, he said.
“The reason we do that is as goals change, we want to be able to remove them from the strategic plan and add new ones,” Borton said.
“I’m happy to hear suggestions,” he said.
Treasurer Jenalee Niese reported that 31 graduating seniors had a negative cafeteria balance of $1,577. Of those students, nine were over the threshold of $50, which was considered bad debt. Seniors must pay the balance by graduation practice in order to receive their diplomas, she said.
Graduation is Sunday.
The total cafeteria debt as of May 2 was $15,772, Niese said. That amount was $10,000 more than last year at that time.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Adopted the five-year forecast update that included a cash balance of $7.45 million at the end of this fiscal year and negative $1.5 million in fiscal year 2027 due to the district spending over revenues for each of the next five years. There is an estimated $3.82 million spending deficit in the fiscal year 2027.
“Unfortunately, not much has changed since the November forecast,” Niese said.
She reported the April income tax collection was almost $20,000 more than last year but real estate collection stayed at the 2022 level, which was $1 million less than the 2021 level.
• Approved the purchase of two 72-passenger propane buses from Cardinal Bus Sales Inc. for $248,914.
• Approved the procedure for adding a new school-sponsored athletic team. The team must compete for three years as a club sport program, during which there will be no financial support from the district or be allowed to participate in state-sponsored tournaments.
Following the three consecutive seasons that a club has maintained the minimum number of participants and successfully completed all other requirements; the team may be considered for school-sponsored varsity status upon approval by the school board.
• Approved lunch prices for the 2023-24 year. Adult lunches will be $3.50, up 15 cents; breakfast will be $2, up 25 cents; student lunch will be $2.50 in the elementary and $2.75 in the high school, both up 15 cents; milk will stay the same at 60 cents; and entrees will be $2, up 25 cents. The increases are due to a federal requirement.
• Accepted the retirements of Becky Dibling, bus driver, effective July 31, and Terry Rothenbuhler, cafeteria supervisor, effective Sept. 1. The board also accepted the resignations of Jeff McMahon, elementary teacher, effective July 31, and Derek Meyer, high school teacher, effective Aug. 15.
• Accepted the resignation of Allison Betz as head cook and appointed her cafeteria supervisor. She was given a two-year contract.
• Hired and gave one-year contracts to Matt Hauenstein, high school math, and Kelly Bates, middle school intervention specialist.
• Award continuing contracts to John Bates, Kyle Hackenburg, Krysteena Lawrence and Emily Reynolds, all at the high school; Shelby Bratt, at the middle school; and Kathryn Deeds, at the elementary school.
• Hired Jace Grossman as strength coach for the 2023-24 school year at a cost of $16,000.
• Approved the substitute salary schedule, giving a $2 hourly bonus to anyone who retired from Elmwood.
• Approved donations of $50 from Roger and Bonna Benschoter and $40 from James and Judith Seifert, both for the middle school track.
