Photo by Hannah Wingert
Jason Boynton from Smith Schafer presented the 2024-2025 audit report to the Fillmore Central school board at their November 25 meeting. The report received a clean, unmodified opinion. Enrollment has been going down over the last eight years from 635 to 560 this year which affects the funding the school receives. The federal aid dollars are back down to pre-pandemic amounts. The district debts are due to be paid off by 2030. The general fund revenues exceeded the expenditures by $47,793 in 2025. Superintendent Heath Olstad noted that the district has worked with Boynton and his staff for quite a few years and it has always been a good experience. The board approved the audit report.
The minutes of the October 27 and November 12 meetings were approved.
The fall sports season has wrapped up with cross country runner Autumn Rakosnik placing 11th at the state tournament and the football and volleyball teams placing as section 1A champions. The winter sports season is underway with basketball games already being played. Congratulations were extended to Clayton Schoepski and Kyla Hellickson for received AAA awards and to Amelia Ringer and Cooper Pickett for received ExCel awards.
A Veterans Day program was held at the elementary school on November 11, which went well. The kindergarten through fourth grade students have been turning in a record number of reading calendars. Students who completed their calendars were rewarded with an extra recess. The primary grades will be finishing their phonics screeners next month which will allow teachers to tailor the students’ support to their individual needs and skills.
The 4/5 preschool took a field trip to the Preston Library’s storywalk on November 21. The Harmony Arts Board funded two outdoor art easels for the preschoolers to use, and the outdoor playground continues to be a great opportunity for the children. The Preston Fireman’s Association provided funds to purchase two infant tables which will enhance mealtimes and activities. ECFE is planning a Breakfast with Santa event in Harmony and will also be participating in Holidays in Harmony as well as the Mistletoe Market and Holiday Hustle and Bustle in Preston. There are several positions open in the daycare and SAC program.
Resignations were accepted from seventh grade boys basketball coach Josh Krage, SPED para Tara Morem, and One Block at a Time lead teacher Courtney Sivesind. Natasha Winslow was hired as a SPED para, Soraya Hershberger as a daycare aide, Beverlee Hahn as a lead teacher in One Block at a Time, Tim Pierce as a full-time custodian, Tyler Schoon as a volunteer wrestling coach, and Nathan Rindels as volunteer girls basketball coach.
A list of families who need assistance paying for their kids’ milk break and healthy snack cart fees was submitted by Chris Mensink. A transfer of $687.30 was approved from the lunch and milk assistance fund to the milk break revenue account to cover those accounts.
The Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness or CACR report was reviewed by the board. It was previously known as the World’s Best Workforce. The report set goals for the elementary and high school such as graduation rates, test scores, etc.
An open enrollment request was approved.
Thanks were extended to the First Southeast State Bank for their donation to to the volleyball state experience.
The band room door at the high school will be replaced in early December and will take about two days to complete.
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