The Eastern Pulaski School Board held discussion on the calendar year budget during their meeting last week.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that only two school corporations in the state operate on a fiscal year budget and Eastern Pulaski is one of those two schools. The board recently approved a measure to move the school from a fiscal year budget to calendar year budget to come in line with state software and other advantages. He said the switch may get a little tricky.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved summer school classes during their meeting this week.
Superintendent Dan Foster said a few courses will be offered this summer.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board has started a discussion about The Crossing which is a school that helps educate students who have dropped out of school, transitioned to home school or who were expelled at one time during their educational career.
Superintendent Dan Foster stressed that the board is only in the discussion phase at this point.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board members approved a resolution to move from a recognized fiscal year budget to a calendar year budget.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained the school corporation is one of two school corporations in the state that operate on a fiscal year budget which is from July 1 to June 30. All other school corporations in the state follow a calendar year budget which is from January to December.
According to Superintendent Dan Foster, six days have been missed and it appears that one day will need to be added to the end of the school year in order to make up all of the days missed. One missed day was made up in a built-in snow day in January while one will be made up in a built-in snow day scheduled yet this month and another one in April. Two days were previously waived by the State.
The board members will discuss this issue, summer school classes, the adoption of the calendar year budget, and the purchase of iPads and cases during their meeting Wednesday in the Distance Learning Lab.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board learned that the official Average Daily Membership student count was 1,233. That is an increase of 43 students to the corporation. The board was happy to hear that statistic as state funding follows the student and the corporation will be getting some extra operating funds this year.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board did formally approve a recommendation to withdraw from the Midwest Athletic Conference. Eastern Pulaski now joins eight other schools in the area in making that decision.
That count has not been released, but Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman stressed that student count is important as funding follows the student.
The Eastern Pulaski School Corporation will soon have a new superintendent in place. Dr. Robert Klitzman retired June 30th but stayed on in an interim capacity until his replacement is hired. Klitzman tells WKVI news that August 23rd will be his last day. The board will conduct a public hearing on the new superintendent’s contract during their Monday, Aug. 12th board meeting. State law requires a hearing be held, but Klitzman says the candidate will not be identified by name. The board will then meet in executive session, with a formal hiring decision scheduled during a special-called meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The board members voted to hold two meetings next week to discuss a proposed contract for a new superintendent. The board will be holding negotiations soon.
Current Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman announced his retirement in March and will leave the corporation after his contract expires June 30. He has been at the helm for the past 26 years.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman stated that one class will be P.E. for high school students.
“They can have that credit completed during the summer in a fashion where they have three and four hour blocked time,” explained Klitzman. “With just a little imagination and creativity, you can see how much more things that opens up and that you can do with that block of time.”
Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman explained that the corporation will be applying for Title One and Higher Ability federal grants.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said this is always the high point of the entire school year.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman advised that the board tabled his request for the contract extensions at this time.
To qualify, the students had to score in the upper percentile in the ISTEP+ exam. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman told the school board Monday night that this is the second year in a row that the school has earned this distinction.
“Being a 4-Star School is the highest distinction that the Department of Education bestows on a school,” explained Klitzman. “It’s an earned one based on our data performance. We’re very pleased. We feel excellent about our approach in our reading programs and how we emphasize Instruction Day and focus things. We’re very proud of our teachers every day.”
