Antigo school board making use of federal dollar to restore programs June 24, 2009 Calling it a rare opportunity to restore education programs, the Antigo school board Tuesday approved a plan to earmark federal stimulus dollars for everything from technical education at the Middle School to expansion of kindergarten services to four-year-olds.
At its regular monthly meeting, the board approved a broad outline of how to use $991,128 received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as economic stimulus funds.
“This is an opportunity to do something for education that we haven’t been able to do for a long time,” Board President Gary Kieper said.
Under the requirements of the stimulus funds, the lion’s share of the money must be for specific programs to enhance reading and special education programs.
But there is also a caveat that a portion of the funds—$277,000 in this case—can be used to offset projects normally financed through the general fund.
“This is one-year only,” Director of Business Services Mary Jo Filbrandt said. “The priorities should be for one-year costs.”
The board chose to earmark the funds for a mix of one-time costs plus the restoration of Middle School technical education, a program that was cut under duress several years ago due to budget constraints.
“Technical education is something people say they want,” Kieper said. “How we’re going to pay for it next year, I don’t know.”
Specifically, the plan calls for funds to be used for a Middle School tech ed instructor, $59,000; materials and equipment for the tech ed program, $20,000; social studies textbook adoption, $60,000; counseling services, $30,000; instructional dollars for schools, $78,000; virtual school development and support, $33,000; and an unspecified amount for maintenance and safety items.
Another major item will be the hiring of a readiness teacher, who will also be responsible for planning and implementation the four-year-old kindergarten program. Those costs will be split between the Title 1 and special education stipends.
Other Title 1 projects include a fifth grade teacher at North Elementary; Middle School reading specialist; professional development; and instructional software ad materials for schools.
Other special education projects include remodeling of a Middle School classroom; technology, software and equipment purchases; an educational interpreter for the deaf/hard of hearing; transportation; additional instructional assistants; and instructional materials.
In a related matter, Filbrandt updated the board on the status of the state budget, which could cost the district additional dollars in aid reductions and limits to its revenue cap authority.
Filbrandt said several areas remain unknown and suggested no further cuts be considered at this time.
“Right now we are comfortable with where we are at,” she said.
In other business, the board delayed any further action on a potential $1 million project to add a wood-fired heating system to the high school, waiting until more information is known on costs and available grants.
The district is one of nine statewide that is in the midst of a planning process to determine the feasibility of heating the high school and aquatic center using biomass, usually wood chips or tree tops not suitable for other uses.
In other matters, the board:
—delayed action on selling the construction class house built by students. The board will continue to advertise for buyers, with a minimum bid of $47,000, which is based on the cost of materials.
—agreed to allow the Gridiron Club to demolish the old bathroom and concession stand at Schofield Stadium. The group has constructed new facility as a replacement.
—and voted not to fill the vacant position for a full-time custodian at the Middle School, hiring two part-time housekeepers instead. Savings is figured at about $33,000.
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