MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon City School District is doing fine financially, though shortfalls may appear after the next two years.
The board of education Monday approved the 5-year forecast prepared by district treasurer Judy Forney, who said the forecast showed that the board may have to explore extra sources of revenue, or implementing budget cuts, around 2021. Nevertheless, 5-year forecasts are an estimation and factors affecting school districts’ finances are subject to change.
“We’re hoping to finish this school year with about the same amount of money that we carried over last year, which is a little over $5 million,” said Forney. She told the News that the outlook for the next two years is good.
School districts across the state are currently waiting on the results from state congressional budget hearings, which are set to roll out a biennial state budget by July 1.
“Once we know what that’s going to be that could change the forecast a lot,” she said. “We’re not anticipating any cuts from the state.”
The board of education began the meeting by recognizing seven retiring employees. The retirees include first grade teacher Callia Ahlbeck, preschool itinerant teacher Jennifer Highnam, high school CBI teacher Gary Keller, middle school social studies teacher Cheri Murphy, middle school science teacher Tammy Orsborn, second shift custodian R. Gordon Sargent and assistant to the school psychologists Carol Szerlip.
“We lost a lot of wonderful people, but we’re happy for them,” said board president Margie Bennett.
The school also accepted resignations from high school Latin teacher Mary Jo Behrensmeyer, high school social studies teacher Ashley Chapman and middle school math department co-chair Meghan Durbin, all effective May 31.
Two new teachers were formally approved to start next school year. Emily Lewis will be joining the district as high school Latin teacher. She graduated from Xavier University in 2018 with a bachelor’s in classics. Kelly Mallak will be a social studies teacher at Mount Vernon Middle School. She earned her master’s in education from Tiffin University in 2009.
The board also approved:
•A $109,852.81 contract with Revere Roofing Company for a roof replacement at the Learning Center.
•Three home school students for participation in athletics.
•Revision of the middle school fees for 2019-2020.
•The following donations: $1,000 for student support from an anonymous donor and ice cream from Round Hill Dairy for the Senior Citizens Luncheon.
•A three year contract with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees with a 1.5 percent base increase for non-teaching employees for each of the three years.
•Memorandums of understanding with Columbus State Community College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
•Renewed contracts with Schoology, Thought Exchange, NWEA and Fast ForWord reading program.
•Various staff contracts.
