The Durant school board once again held an entirely virtual meeting May 11, as the state is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the elementary wing of the school district has been closed to staff recently due to asbestos removal.
The bulk of the discussion Monday night dealt with planning and funding for the district preschool program. Elementary Principal Rebecca Stineman said funding for the pre-K program was tied to kindergarten numbers. Due to the fact that they’ve been low, funding is down.
She went on to say that while it’s unknown exactly how many preschool students will enroll in the fall, early projections suggest around 38 coming into the 4-year old program and a total of roughly 50 when also considering 3-year olds and those needing special education.
For years, Durant has offered full-day preschool. Stineman said, along with guidance from Superintendent Joe Burnett, that the district is considering possibly going to half days and/or raising the tuition portion charged to parents. Burnett added that the district only receives half the funding of K-12 students via the state. That, coupled with low kindergarten numbers, leaves the district with a $75,000-$80,000 shortfall.
He also said that the district has two full-time preschool teachers, Mindy Hoon and Allie Cronbaugh. Wilton also has two full-time teachers but with twice the number of students, according to Burnett, who also serves as superintendent of the Wilton district.
Burnett said the district might have to look at only servicing 4-year olds in the future to remain viable. After several questions from board members, Stineman and Burnett noted that the district was still weighing several options as no decisions had been made yet.
Continuing with administrative reports, High School Principal Joel Diederichs said plans were ongoing for the upcoming parade of cars for graduation May 17. He said all 40 DHS grads are set to participate and will begin lining up at the school in their cars at 12:30 p.m. with a 1 p.m. start time Sunday.
Diederichs is also working with his Building Leadership Team to prepare for what school will look like in the post COVID-19 era until a vaccine is in place, with an emphasis on social distancing once school returns in the fall.
Miscellany
In other action, the board:
* Held a FY2020 budget amendment hearing prior to the regular meeting and later approved the following amendments to the budget: an increase from $2.81 million to $3.09 million in support services for increased tech hardware/software and custodial equipment costs; an increase from $335,332 to $345,332 for increased property/liability insurance and personnel costs; and an increase in other expenditures from $1.08 million to $1.536 million for various capital project improvements including lighting, boiler upgrades, bleachers, flooring, bus barn upgrades, parking lot resurfacing, etc.
* Approved the resignation of Tiffany Martin, wrestling cheer coach.
* Reviewed policies 406.1; 406.2; 406.3; 406.4; 406.5; 406.6; 407.1; 407.2; 407.3; 407.4; and 407.5.
* Approved the classified staff handbook.
* Approved the transfer of $30,440 from the PPEL fund to the debt service fund to cover the district’s final bond payment on a 20-year bond that helped Durant build its current cafeteria, convert the old one to classrooms and add classrooms to the east end of the elementary, including the superintendent’s wing plus business offices.
* Approved the list of 2020 graduates. Durant will graduate 40 seniors this year.
* The district will continue serving curbside meals through June 30.
* Burnett noted it was school board appreciation week.
All action taken was unanimous. Board members Travis Bullard, Carla Whitlock, Katy Oberlander, Tara Lindsay and Julie Rivera were present. The next regular meeting is June 8 at 5:30 p.m.