ADAMS TOWNSHIP — Following the Nov. 6 ballot box defeat of a proposed earnings tax, Clinton-Massie officials look to either cut the budget again or ask voters for additional revenue again.
No decision between the options has been made, Clinton-Massie Local Schools Board of Education President Jeremy Lamb said Monday night.
The proposed 0.5 percent earnings tax was turned down in a vote of 2,531 against and 2,345 in favor — a difference of 186 votes across the district which is in both Clinton and Warren Counties.
Lamb elaborated Monday there will not be a decision “on where we go with revenue or budget-cutting” until it’s known how much funds will be generated through the Warren County real estate assessment, a number expected to come out in early December.
Presently, Warren County officials anticipate a $60,000 to $80,000 increase in revenue for the school district. And though firmer numbers are not yet available, school administrators have spoken with Warren County officials and the county officials do not expect a big funding increase, Lamb said.
Clinton-Massie leaders also are keeping an eye on the Statehouse in Columbus where next spring there will be a biennial budget update by the state. Clinton-Massie currently is on what’s called a guarantee where it receives the same amount of state funds each year, but there has been a lot of talk about reducing the guarantee, said the board president.
Meanwhile, Lamb plans for every monthly school board meeting to include an overview or discussion about a certain piece of school finance.
In a report to the board, Clinton-Massie Food Service Director Tracy Mathews reported on chicken bowls which they started serving last school year and which has proven to be a hit with high school students. In fact, at a “Chicken Bowl Day” this month, cafeteria staff sold 396 chicken bowls, beating the prior high of 360 chicken bowls.
A Chicken Bowl Day has been added at the school for December, and now a Falcon Time group has created “Chicken Bowl Day” T-shirts and are purchasing one T-shirt for each high school cafeteria staff member to wear.
Mathews reported the high school head cook has resigned, and the district will try not to replace the position with another head cook. To save money, the position will be covered by changing a three-hour employee to 5.8 hours, and then a three-hour position will be added during serving and closing time at the high school. If this works out long-term, it will save the district $6,500 annually.
She also released numbers on students who receive free or reduced price meals at school. Out of the district’s total enrollment of 1,786 students, 289 receive free meals and 62 receive reduced price meals. So the percentage of students who get either a free or reduced meal is 19.7 percent, or nearly one in five students.
If a child is approved for reduced meals, they would pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. This is a savings to the family of $71 per month.
Also at the meeting, Andy Lauer was honored with a Consistently Making A Difference (CMAD) Award. In particular, he was recognized for his actions on Oct. 22 when he was supervising afternoon recess at the middle school. A student grabbed Lauer to get his attention, and when Mr. Lauer turned around he realized the student was choking.
He applied the Heimlich Maneuver and the candy was expelled, said Lamb reading the award presentation.
Lauer is a hero in so many ways, said Lamb, noting he is a military veteran, a former state trooper, and works well with special needs students.
The next regularly scheduled board of education meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
