Atlantic School District Board meeting 4-10-19

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening, held a Public Hearing on the 2019-2020 Certified Budget, during which there were no comments from the public. During their regular session that followed, the Board approved previously mentioned resignations, with the addition of Julie Livingston, Schuler Elementary/Middle School Special Education Teacher, and added contract recommendations for Ethan Pruisman as High School Vocal Music Director, along with Beth Schwarte, Preschool Summer School Teacher.

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber said the Board will need to make an amendment next month to this year’s Certified Budget, for the “Other” category. He said there were a few expenses that were not budgeted for this school year, including: Work on fixing a sewage problem at Washington Elementary, paying for lighting for the High School Commons, replacing two small sections of the Middle School Auditorium roof, and replacing a bus transmission, along with some unforeseen technology expenses.

The school board voted to approve contracts with Snyder and Associates Engineers and FRK Architects, for the final plans and specifications pertaining to the District Facilities project. The timeline calls for those plans and specs to be presented to the Board during their meeting May 8th, at which time they are expected to set the bidding letting date as May 9th, and a Public Hearing for the week of May 13th. Bid letting is expected to occur 2-p.m. May 22nd. It’s expected construction would begin in June.

Barber said there is a strong desire to have the Washington portion of the project prior to the start of the first day of school, which requires expediting the bidding process. By doing so, they will be getting architect and possibly construction expenses before the District is able to sell the bonds. A Resolution next month will allow the District to use SAVE dollars to pay those expenses, which will be reimbursed once the bonds are sold.

Superintendent Barber said also, that in the next school year, they will be identifying one teacher in Kindergarten and one in First grade, who will be piloting a concept called “Looping.” Basically “looping” is having the same group of kids working with the same teacher for two-years. The identified KG teacher will be teaching 1st grade during the 2020-21 school year with the same group of kids. This year’s 1st grade Teacher would move back to Kindergarten during the 2020-21 school year.

The Board approved the Certified Budget, which calls for a levy of $14.72/$1,000 property valuation, a decrease of 5-cents from the original published amount. The assessed value in the district increased 3.03%, for a total of 36-cents less than last year, according to Mr. Barber.