OSSD Approves FY2005 Budget

August 11, 2005

A budget has been approved for the Oneida Special School District’s 2005-2006 fiscal year.

The budget was approved by a vote of the Board of Education at Thursday’s regular session at Oneida Elementary School. The budget for FY 2005-06 will consist of $8.1 million in the general purpose budget, $540,000 in federal projects and $276,000 in debt services.

Connie Thomas informed the board that the school system might be required to use some of its reserve fund to cover some expenditures but hopes to receive enough additional revenue to cover those expenditures.

Thomas also told the board that the system had ended Fiscal Year 2004-2005 (on June 30) on a positive note, adding $30,000 to the fund balance.

In other business Thursday, the board:

• Approved a special education vision contract with vision specialist Gwyn Holt to provide services for students with vision disabilities;

• Adopted a mission statement for the school system — “to produce graduates capable of accomplishing any life-given challenge” — as well as goals and beliefs;

• Approved on second reading a pair of board policy updates relating to parent/family involvement and attendance policy;

• Approved Oneida Middle School fundraiser requests submitted by Cheryl Butler; and,

• Accepted letters of resignation from Annette Hart Marshall, Gayla Kidd and Tiffany Tigert, and approved a leave of absence request from Pam Meadors.

In his report to the board, Director of Schools Henry Baggett said that he had made several appointments over the past month, including: Substitutes — Leigh Duncan, Debbie Newport and Laurel Ward; Assistants — Terri Murphy; Teachers — LeeAnn Wampler (Fourth grade math teacher at Oneida Elementary), David Wampler (Physical science and physics teacher at Oneida High), Carol Thompson (Kindergarten teacher at Oneida Elementary), Sandra Martin (Librarian at Oneida High), Lesley Neal (Oneida Elementary), and Matt Stiltner (Special education at Oneida High).

The board also heard from each of the school system’s principals that enrollment is up slightly for the 2005-2006 school year.

OES Principal Johnny Strunk told the board that the elementary school has gained 42 new students and lost 19 in transfers, for a net gain of 23 students. He said that the as of the start of the school year on Thursday, his school has registered 43 students in pre-K, 87 in kindergarten, 94 in first grade, 95 in second grade, 89 in third grade, 97 in fourth grade and 102 in fifth grade.

OMS Principal Cheryl Butler said that the middle school has a total of 288 students after gaining 12 and losing 11 in transfers. She said that the school has enrolled 97 students in eighth grade, 89 in seventh grade and 102 in sixth grade. She added that the 10-day window for parents wishing to enroll their student at OMS without a change of residence will end on August 17. After that point, she said, all transfers — except those where a change of residence is involved — will end until the start of the second semester.

OHS Principal Rick Harper said that the high school has “428 to 430” students this year, up from 402 students in 2004-2005.

news@ihoneida.com

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