PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FINANCIAL UPDATE … Pike-Delta-York Local School District CFO/Treasurer Leland Hays delivers his monthly financial report during the school board’s most recent meeting.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Amid myriad financial challenges for the district moving forward, Pike-Delta-York Local School District CFO/Treasurer Leland Hays delivered his regular report during Wednesday’s meeting of the board of education, among other business.
Hays reported that real estate taxes collected by the district were down roughly 11 percent year over year, but pointed out that the district had expected it to be within 1 percent of that amount.
“We knew this was happening. It’s in our budget, it’s in our forecast, it’s already there,” he said.
Board members approved a large slate of staffing updates, including resignations, contract renewals, new contracts, and maternity leave of one year each for a pair of female staffers.
According to Superintendent Doug Ford, a full year for maternity leave is not typical, but has always been in the contract.
The leave — mostly unpaid and requiring the district to be notified at least four months ahead of time — consists of a combination of leave compensation including Family and Medical Leave Act time.
The employees must either pay for their own insurance or obtain coverage under their spouses’ plans during the leave. Ford said the leave provides a savings for the district.
Other changes in personnel included the combining of the secretary positions for the athletics and counseling departments.
Board members approved a trio of overnight trips, including a sixth-grade trip to outdoor education camp in Jackson, Michigan, from November 11 through 13, an FFA trip to FFA Camp Muskingum for five days yet to be determined in either June or July, and an FFA trip to the FFA Officers Retreat from July 6 to 8.
Board members accepted donations totaling $32.11 for the high school student council, $298 for baseball, $685 for Cory’s Backpack, $100 for the middle school Panther Pantry, $500 for the FFA, $2,000 for Forever 35, $5,000 for football helmets, $200 for the district faculty and staff scholarship, and $600 for food service.
The board ended its regular business by going into executive session for the purpose of discussing the “appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee, or official, licensee, or student.” No action was expected as a result of the session.
Ford, in his capacity as principal of the high school, reported staff is looking into the creation of a school-based healthcare clinic through state grant funding.
The next regular meeting of the Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17 at the board’s offices, located at 504 Fernwood Street in Delta.
