By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green School District Treasurer Rhonda Melchi showed the school board Tuesday the five-year financial forecast for the district, then showed them an image that best summed up the situation – a rollercoaster.
Melchi described some of the changes that have occurred since October. Tangible personal property tax was expected to disappear, but the district was supplemented for two years of that revenue.
State foundation funding increased from a 0.28 percent to a 0.31 percent share. While that may seem insignificant, Melchi said it adds up to quite a bit. Of the $5,900 per pupil funding level at Bowling Green, the state will pay $1,829.
Property tax collection has increased by $120,000 and the school district income tax is up $129,000. Some savings are being experienced in health insurance costs.
But looking ahead, the district is adding two curriculum coordinators, six regular classroom teachers, two special education teachers, one behavioral specialist and one speech specialist.
All those figures add up to revenue and expenditure lines that crisscross on their ways up and down on the financial forecast chart. Based on the current snapshot on finances, the district will have a positive balance until 2019, Melchi said. Then, the district will have to search for more revenue.
Also at the meeting, the school board learned about a new literacy task force led by Ann McCarty, executive director of teaching and learning for the district. She introduced several teachers who have been working on their own time throughout the year on a program to improve reading programs. All the teachers wore red T-shirts, McCarty said, because “this group is on fire.”
Several of the teachers took turns describing different highlights of the literacy efforts.
“Compare it to learning to ride a bike,” Stacey Higgins said. First, the teacher holds on as the student pedals, then the teacher runs alongside, and finally the student takes off.
Some of the teachers also described what the literacy program is not. It is not “one size fits all” and not memorization of words.
In addition to improving literacy in the students and each classroom, the program will also ensure all the elementaries and secondary classrooms have the same goals.
“The same building blocks, the same foundation is there,” said Emily Mennitt, school psychologist. The district has great teachers, she said, but “we were lacking in consistency. There wasn’t an overall plan.”
Teacher Danielle Carrasquillo said teaching reading can be a “really messy process.” But the new literacy program has rejuvenated her. It doesn’t offer a quick fix, but a structure with room to breathe, she said.
McCarty said the program will be especially helpful to first-year teachers.
Bowling Green Superintendent Francis Scruci said it is inspiring to see the teachers so excited about improving literacy levels in students. “We have people committed to making that change,” he said.
In other business on Tuesday, the school board:
- Listened as Bill Clifford was sworn in as the newest board member, taking the place of Ed Whipple.
- Approved slight increases in student lunch prices. Elementary lunches will cost $2, secondary lunches will range from $2.15 to $2.30, and premium lunches will cost $2.65.
- Learned from Food Service Director Sue Chandler that all the Bowling Green school cafeterias won Clean Plate Awards from the Wood County Health District. Chandler introduced the heads of the five school cafeterias, who have 98 years of combined experience.
- Met Camille Chatfield and Kylee Knauss, from Conneaut Elementary School, who recently won awards from the Ohio Art Education Association.
- Congratulated members of the BGHS Chorale for their success during state competition.
- Congratulated members of the BGHS boys track team and Coach Joe Hudok for being two-time NLL champions.
