Last year’s Culver school referendum is helping to fund teacher raises, LED lighting installation, and some new academic programs. Last November, voters agreed to let the school district raise property taxes by up to 17 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period. A breakdown of how that money is being used so far, as well as some future plans, was presented during a school board work session Monday.
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Culver Community Schools’ bus drivers are getting a raise. Superintendent Karen Shuman says the increase in the daily wage was approved by the school board Monday.
“Before, our bus drivers were at a $65 rate, and we increased them to an $80 rate,” she explains.
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The recent transition in the school funding structure was reviewed with Culver school officials Monday. On January 1, each school corporation’s General Fund was replaced by an Education Fund, while the Capital Projects, Transportation, and Bus Replacement Funds were combined into an Operations Fund.
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The Culver Community Schools Corporation’s purchase of a new bus hit another procedural snag that had to be corrected by the school board Thursday. School officials have decided to replace an extra bus this year. The bus in question was originally scheduled for replacement in 2020.
The Culver Community Schools Corporation is looking to replace an extra school bus this year. Bus 24 was scheduled to be replaced in 2020, but school officials have decided to move that forward, according to Treasurer Casey Howard. The school board took steps to make funds available earlier this month. But Howard told board members this week that the 2018 through 2030 bus replacement plan had to be amended before the state would allow the additional appropriation. The school board passed a resolution Monday to accept the amended plan.
The Culver Community Schools Corporation’s 2019 budget was officially adopted by the school board Monday. The corporation is asking for a budget of just under $12.2 million, according to Treasurer Casey Howard.
The Culver School Board cleaned up a couple bookkeeping items when it met Monday. Treasurer Casey Howard said that the Special Education Grant wouldn’t be enough to cover costs. She explained that the grant application was turned in before teacher contract negotiations wrapped up and didn’t take into account a pay increase that ended up being included.
The Culver School Board finalized an update to the corporation’s debt collection policy Monday. Superintendent Karen Shuman said school officials have been reevaluating the way they go about making sure people resolve their negative account balances.
The Culver Community Schools Corporation is keeping Daniel Medesi as its technology director. A contract renewal was approved by the school board Monday.
The Culver Community Schools Corporation is keeping Casey Howard as its business manager. A contract renewal was approved by the school board Monday. Howard said the only changes were a reduction in the days of service and an increase in the life insurance policy.
Some Culver Community Schools programs will be getting a boost, thanks to a pair of donations accepted by the school board Monday. “Culvers Lion’s Club gave the Spanish Club $500 for their Costa Rica trip, and the Culver PTO has given both $500 to the elementary and then to the middle school reading program,” explained Superintendent Karen Shuman.
Declining enrollment and state funding continue to cause concerns for the Culver Community Schools Corporation. In an update to the school board last week, Corporation Treasurer Casey Howard said that enrollment was about 1,073 students during the 2009-2010 school year. She said it’s now just under 739 students.
Upgrades to Culver Community Middle/High School will soon be able to move ahead. The school board voted Monday to use bond money to move the main entrance and office to where the school’s library currently is. Board member Mark Maes commented that the new arrangement would be a big upgrade, both for safety and aesthetics. Some of the bond money will also be used to remodel the restrooms across from the high school gym.
Prices for lunch will increase for all schools next year at the Culver Community School Corporation.
Food Services Director Carin Clifton said the lunch price variables were put into a calculator as part of the Indiana Department of Education paid equity requirements. It was determined this year that the price will go up another 10 cents. The statistic is based on students who are not on free and reduced lunch.
Students in the Culver Community School Corporation will be using Apple iPads in the sixth year of the One-to-One Computer Initiative.
Technology Director Daniel Medesi said students in grades seven through 12 will be able to take their computers home while the addition of users in the third through sixth grades will leave theirs at the school. Kindergarten through second grade students will get to use the 10 iPads available in each classroom.
The Culver Community School Board received an update on the funding projection for the next school year. Corporation Treasurer Casey Howard said Monday night that solid numbers are elusive as figures constantly change from information given by the state.
Howard said that the corporation will see a reduction in grants and the February ADM count will cause a reduction in funding.
