DUKE CENTER — The Otto-Eldred school board started off their night with a presentation from two high school teachers.
Karen Farmelo and Fawn Miller presented some of the technology integration occurring in their science classes using the Office 365 platform. The board was able to see the use of the collaborative online environments which included sharing of content through the cloud and also the student use of video to display their understanding of concepts.
During old business, the board was updated on current budget planning. Current projections for the 2017-18 budget show a $370,000 deficit, which includes $300,000 transfer to capital reserve fund. That means the anticipated fund balance loss would only be about $100,000, which is much better than the $300,000 anticipated loss in the adopted budget. The current deficit in the 2018-19 budget is about $670,000, of which about half is made up of budgetary reserve transfers, making the operational deficit about $325,000. That deficit is close to what was planned for the current year.
The board was also updated on possible program changes for the Career and Technical Center (CTC) from the Intermediate Unit 9. It is anticipated that a pre-engineering program will replace the current metal working shop starting next year. This program would be aligned with the needs of industry in our area and also prepare students for post-secondary engineering programs. The board will also be provided an update on the Homeland Security program next month. The hope is enough funding is secured to begin the program next fall.
As part of the comprehensive plan, the special education plan was presented and approved for public display. Final approval will be in April. The public is invited to review the plan at either building office or online at www.ottoeldred.org.
In new business, a new collective bargaining agreement with the Otto-Eldred Education Association was approved by the board unanimously. OEEA approved the new agreement last week. It will take effect July 1 and run through June 2023.
Various staff and supplemental positions were approved.
Senior class president Ethan Flexman and class advisor Erin Jackson presented a request for a senior trip to Kalahari Resort on May 23. The trip was approved by the board.
Preschool registration for next fall is currently at 13 and kindergarten at 33.
A home technology use and access survey is currently available to O-E parents on the Otto-Eldred School District’s Facebook page. The information collected will give the district a better sense of internet access in the district and the level of use in homes.
There will be an Act 80 day on Friday; students will not have classes on that day. Due to the building-wide training on that day the elementary office will be closed from 8 to 11 a.m. and the district offices will be closed from noon to 3 p.m.
