South Hamilton faces declining enrollment concerns
By Billie Shelton — Daily Freeman-Journal WriterJEWELL - School board members at South Hamilton once again addressed declining enrollment when they met for their November meeting, reviewing the impact of declining enrollment on the projected school budget for the 2009-10 school year.
The size of the decline will allow the district to qualify for the budget guarantee, which guarantees the district a 1 percent increase over the previous year. It is likely the district will be in the situation for the following school year.
Declining enrollment and budgetary needs have meant the board is looking at a retirement incentive policy. They approved the second reading of a policy that includes a one-year additional cash incentive for teachers who decide to retire at the end of the 2008-09 school year. The incentive ends June 30, 2009. The deadline for the application was changed from Jan. 15 to Jan. 25.
The board took a turn from budget and enrollment concerns to hear a report from Supt. Lyle Schwartz on the Energy Summit he recently attended in Washington, D.C., through the American Association of School Administrators. The focus at the summit was on finding efficiencies in school and energy issues. Schools that are "going green" highlighted successes they had in saving money and providing a safe healthy environment for students and staff.
South Hamilton has contacted Alliant Energy to do an energy audit to identify possible savings. Another company will review all of the district's bills and invoices to determine if they can identify possible savings. A recycling program is already in place but will be reviewed to see if further recycling could be done.
Long-term projects to study might include the feasibility of wind, solar, and geothermal. The board also reviewed a list of ideas from the staff on how each building could be more efficient. No action on the matter was taken, but the board agreed further study about going green would be valuable.
After reviewing guidelines for the Fire/Life Safety Grants, the board voted to direct the superintendent to complete an application to pursue projects identified by the State Fire Marshal. Specific projects and the grant application will be presented at the December board meeting. Grant deadline is Dec. 15.
In other action, the board:
Gave approval to hold fall sports banquets on Sundays in November.
Approved Vickie Anderson as the basketball cheer coach and Kathy Houck as the wrestling cheer coach.
Approved Kim Anderson as the assistant high school softball coach.
