UNIT 2 SCHOOL BOARD REJECTS PROPOSED BUDGET
A budget hearing was held Monday night before the regular Unit 2 school board meeting, the board rejected a proposed budget with a 4-3 vote, with Frey, Gaffner and Prater voting yes and Moore, Young, Daniken and Jackson voting no. The budget presented to the board had a $902,283 deficit in revenue vs. expenditures. Members of the board requested that Superintendent Strieker go back over the budget to make more cuts. Strieker explained that some of this deficit was because the state had cut back on general aid in the amount of $750,000 for the 2012-2013 school year. The Superintendent informed the board that a final budget has to go to the state before the end of the month. The board then set a date for a special meeting on Sept 27th at 7:00 pm to go over the changes in the budget.
The board then went into regular session and approved several items including volunteers throughout the district, a leave of absence for Lori William and Brent Fisher, a trip to Indianapolis to the FFA Convention for some of the High School FFA members and permission for Mr. Cox and Thomason to take the High School music students to Florida, a Tuesday thru Saturday trip in the Spring semester of 2014, this will be at no cost to the district. A Joint agreement with OKAW area Vocation Center in Vandalia was also approved.
The District received $4,387,236 for FY13 Payment in August, of which $3,777,200 came from Bond County Taxes. The State of Illinois still owes the district $260,000 in FY12 Funds.
A Pledge from the Comet Sports Boosters Club was made to match up to $6000 of the cost to repair the Tennis Courts at the High School. The board received a bid from McConnell & Associates to complete the repairs with a Geotextile Repair System for $11,400. The board approved this with cost to the district of $5,700 and the Boosters of $5,700.
MULBERRY GROVE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES 2012-2013 BUDGET
The Mulberry Grove Board of Education met Monday with a budget hearing at 6:45 p.m. Superintendent Mike Gauch presented the 2012-2013 budget which reflects $215,000.00 less state funding this year.
In the regular meeting, Gauch presented the treasurer’s report. Fund balances are in good shape at this time. The board approved the 2012-2013 budget as presented.
There are currently 263 elementary students, ten more than last year. Junior high has an enrollment of 53 students and high school 129, two less than last year.
State’s Attorney Chris Bauer and Associate Judge Hugh Jenson are coming to the high school this Friday, September 21. They will speak to the Government classes about the judicial system and stage a mock trial with the students.
The board approved the intergovernmental agreement with the OKAW Area Vocational Center to participate for 2013-2014 school year. Thirteen Mulberry Grove students are in the program this year.
Following a closed session, the board hired Sara Mize to be junior high girls basketball coach.
The next meeting is Monday, October 15, at 7:00 p.m.
DRIVER INJURED WHEN CAR HITS MOTEL SIGN
Greenville Police and Bond County EMS responded Monday, at 10:03 p.m., to the scene of a single vehicle accident on Rt. 127 at the Super 8 Motel. According to the accident report, Barry M. Hetrick, age 30, of New York, was southbound on Rt. 127, in a Kia Sephia, from CC Food Mart to the Super 8 Motel. His dog jumped into his lap from the back seat, causing him to not be able to steer the car and his car hit the Super 8 Motel sign. Bond County EMS took Hetrick to Greenville Regional Hospital for treatment.
