Teutopolis Board Reviews Financial Outlook

Teutopolis school board members Monday reviewed financial projections for the balance of the school year.

Superintendent Bill Fritcher said the district's series of budget-cutting measures last year were designed to keep the budget in the black, although the Education Fund would still spend about $150,000 more than is received in revenue.  Fritcher told the Board Monday that the expenditure in the Ed Fund will actually be higher due to additions in the Pre-School Special Education program.

Fritcher also reminded board members that the community stepped forward last year and contributed private funds that kept certain programs operating this year, and he's not sure that level of support can be sustained for next year.

The Board also discussed a proposed resolution on how funds would be used if the Effingham County School Facilities Sales Tax is passed by voters in March.  Fritcher said the Board suggested some changes that he'll include in the proposed resolution, with a vote by the Board on the measure expected at the February meeting.

In other action Monday, the Teutopolis board accepted a resignation due to retirement from grade school head cook Ruth Beckman and Nicole Runde's resignation as high school assistant softball coach.  The Board also approved new assignments for some current employees, including Clara Mae Schmidt to grade school head cook, Kathy Mitchell to a six-hour grade school cook position, and Melinda Bloemer to a five-hour grade school cook and three-hour grade school custodian position. The board also hired Jeanette Runde as a three-hour grade school cook, and approved Amber Mayhaus as a student teacher under Amy Oseland at the junior high school this spring.

The Board amended the school calendar to reflect the days off due to the winter storm; tabled a request from the FFA Chapter to farm the plot of land west of the junior high school; and approved the second reading of some policy changes including what the district needs to do as far as the state's new concealed carry law.