At the November 15 meeting, the Springfield Board of Education approved the district’s latest five-year forecast.
For this fiscal year, Treasurer Ryan Lockwood expects total revenues will be $43,493,656 with expenses of $45,258,066 million exceeding revenues by $1,764,410. The cash balance on June 30, 2024 at the end of the district’s fiscal year will be $17,411,711.
Mr. Lockwood anticipates the trend will continue through fiscal year 2028 when revenues are estimated at $37.33 million and expenditures, $48.17 million. In that year, expenses will outpace revenues by $10.85 million, and the cash balance will be in the negative by $17.38 million.
Through 2026 he expects the district to maintain a positive cash balance, although it will dwindle to $5.57 million in 2026. The following year the treasurer projects a negative balance of $5.68 million.
The five-year budget forecast for 2024-28 is required by state law. Mr. Lockwood pointed out that the figures are just an estimate and based on the data currently available.
He added that preparing an accurate five-year forecast is difficult when state funding is uncertain from fiscal years 2026 and beyond.
Personnel
A number of personnel matters were approved by the school board.
A change in contract was approved for Sarah Bond, from interventionist to SHS English teacher, effective November Awarded one-year classified contracts were Elaine Jaquay, 4 hour SMS food service, effective November 27; Kimberly Johnson, 4 hour Dorr night custodian, November 1, and Kostandina Ramm, 2.5 hour SHS food service, November 13.
A personal service contract for 2023-24 was issued to Amy Gelsone, choir accompanist, high school choir.
Pupil activity permits for 2023-24 school year were granted to Trent Bond, SHS freshman boys basketball assistant coach; Alexander Burns, SHS bowling assistant coach; Anthony Burroughs, SHS junior varsity boys basketball assistant coach; Bradley Davis and Jamie Hesselbein, SMS track and field coaches; Rachel Dudukovich, SHS junior varsity girls basketball assistant coach; Cody Johnson, SHS varsity boys basketball assistant coach; Samuel Johnson, SMS wrestling coach, and Kaeli Peer, SHS swimming assistant coach.
The school board accepted resignations from Cynthia Hall, 4.5 hour bus aide, and Kostandina Ramm, 2.5 hour SHS food service.
Anthony Frontine was hired as a substitute teacher. Also employed as substitutes were Pamela Corey, bus driver, and Cynthia Hall, Kimberly Johnson and Kostandina Ramm, bus aides.
Other Business
In other business, the school board:
•Purchased from Facilities Management express work request scheduling software and facility rental software at a cost of $9,574.
•Approved the 2024-25 district calendar.
•Approved an agreement with Sunbelt Client for speech language pathologist services at a cost of $86 per hour.
•Entered into a contract with LearnWell for special education placement at a cost of $45 per hour.
•Approved the purchase of two chairlifts from American Home Elevator and Lift for $52,000.
They will be installed at Holland intermediate on the east and west stairs leading to the basement where art and music classes are held.
•Approved language change revisions for 21 policies.
The policies pertain to conflict of interest, technical corrections, employment of substitutes, third grade reading guarantee, employment of personnel for co-curricular/ extra-curricular activities, volunteers, intradistrict open enrollment, immunization, use of medications, procurement and use of Naloxone (Narcan) in emergency situations; care of students with seizure disorders, board of revision complaints and countercomplaints, Fair Labor Standards Act, facility security, school calendar, student records, transportation, transportation by school van, public attendance at school events, district support organizations, and equivalent education outside the schools and participation in extra-curricular for students not enrolled in the district.
•Approved three requests to attend professional development meetings.
•Entered into executive session, but made no decisions afterward.
The next meeting of the board of education will be at 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, December 13, at the administration building, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, Holland, and is open to the public.
