Budget, alternative program approved

     A 2018-19 certified budget that calls for a tax rate of $12.28821 per $1,000 of taxable valuation was approved by the Monticello School Board at its regular meeting Monday, March 26.

     The rate represents a drop for the second year in a row. The current rate is $13.21257; in fiscal year 2017 it was $14.0649.

     There were three parts to what the board approved: a .02 percent income surtax, a .02 PPEL tax, and a management fund of $200,000. The board had the opportunity to approve a management fund that was higher or lower than that figure, but didn’t want to go too low and risk having to raise it next year.

     Another item approved Monday was the Alternative School Program for the Monticello Community School District.

     In past years, the program was combined with other school districts, all of which have now pulled out to run their own alternative programs.

     So Monticello will run its own alternative school, at the Jones Regional Education Center. A lease agreement to utilize JREC rooms was also approved at the meeting.

     There are currently seven students in the program, which has served 76 Monticello students over the past eight years. It provides an alternative chance to graduate for students who don’t succeed in the traditional high school model or who have fallen significantly behind in credit completion.

     For 2018-19, the program will utilize a teacher and a teacher associate. The curriculum will consist of three options: the Edgenuity 2020 online learning program for credit recovery, Kirkwood correspondence courses, and on-site classes offered to small groups.

     Since funding was already set aside out of the at risk and special education budgets, no costs should be added to the district’s general fund.

     For 2018-19, the program will be closed to students from other districts.

In other school board business:

     • accepted the audit bid of Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, P.C. to conduct the school district’s audit for a three-year term. Costs will be $8,800 for 2018, $9,200 for 2019 and $9.600 for 2020.

     • accepted the bid of FireFly Computers to purchase 400 Lenovo N42 Chromebook computers at a cost of $83,520.

     • as part of the consent agenda, accepted the resignations of David Page as middle school math teacher and Vicki Edwards as Carpenter elementary teacher. Both will be taking early retirement packages.

     • approved the appointments of Colton Halder as assistant boys soccer coach, Eric Schmitt as middle school volunteer track coach, Bret McDonald as middle school volunteer boys track coach, and Dustin Chapman as high school volunteer boys track coach.

     • approved the list of summer coaches and volunteers. These include Bret McDonald as head softball coach, Doug Ries as assistant softball coach, Josh Soper as head baseball coach, Dale Sperfslage as assistant baseball coach, Kim McQuillen as middle school softball coach, and Stacie Breitbach as assistant middle school softball coach.

     • approved the second and final reading of board policy No. 602.7, regarding global education.

     • went into exempt session to discuss collective bargaining.