Superintendent Heath Olstad reviewed the current budget and proposed property tax levy for 2024 with the board, as part of the Truth in Taxation hearing at the December 19 Fillmore Central School Board meeting. The board approved the total proposed school tax levy in the amount of $1,743,308.68.
Superintendent Olstad said that the Christmas concerts at both the elementary and high school locations were well attended. He noted that participation in the band and choir at the high school level is fairly high for a school the size of Fillmore Central, which is something to be proud of. Congratulations were extended to the spelling bee winners. Jonas Corson took first place, John Janssen took second, and Lucas Weist took third. Jonas and John will represent Fillmore Central at the regional spelling bee in February. The One Act, basketball, dance, and wrestling seasons are all underway and going well.
The ECFE winter session will be beginning in January. The Father/Son Build is being planned. The school readiness team has reviewed their benchmarks for quality for the pyramid model and are happy with their progress. They will review it again in May. The One Block at a Time staff are learning all the details of the CACFP food program. They are also continuing to apply for and receive the Great Start Compensation Support grant for both daycare and SAC. There are several open positions for which applications are being accepted.
Jessica Bradt was hired as the enrichment coordinator and JoAnne Peterson as an aide in the infant room at the daycare. An hourly wage request from part-time custodian John Mease was approved.
Superintendent Olstad recommended that the board set two polling sites. One would be at the high school and the other at the district office in Preston. Both polling sites would be open from 3:30-8 pm. The board approved a resolution approving the locations and times for the polling sites.
The fees for the driver training program were reviewed. It was recommended that the fees be raised to account for rising costs to the program. The board approved a motion to raise the cost for full-time Fillmore Central students from $330 to $350. An increase from $380 to $450 for part-time or non Fillmore Central students was also approved. Extra behind the wheel time will remain at $50 an hour.
The board’s annual organizational meeting was scheduled as a special meeting on January 2 at 7 a.m. in Preston. The next regular school board meeting was scheduled for January 23 at 7 p.m. at the high school, but due to the One Act play performance at the same time, the meeting was moved to 6 p.m. that same evening.