The Pike County Board of Education unanimously approved the budget for fiscal year 2015 at a public hearing Monday night.

The budget reflects $23.7 million in revenues and other financial sources and expenditures of $22.7 million. State funds made up 59 percent of the revenues, federal 15 percent, and local 26 percent, with less than 1 percent coming from other sources.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell said that while federal funds have shown a decreasing trend in the past five years, he doesn’t see it affecting students.

“Shrinking federal dollars have cost us a unit in the general fund and I don’t look for that to get any better,” Bazzell said. “But when I look at the staffing at the schools, all the things we are doing, from music education to academies, I don’t think we are selling short our students. There are lots of education opportunities for kids out there.”

Bazzell said he is looking to shrink some elementary class sizes that have high enrollment.

“We will be working in the coming weeks to address problem areas,” Bazzell said.

In other business, the board:

 

Approved the naming Major Lane as interim principal of Goshen High School. He replaces Warren Weeks, who resigned in August to be a principal in Randolph County.

Approved a resolution honoring Coach Joseph Edward Boyd’s service to the school district.

Approved the hiring of four employees and two volunteers: Tyra Fee, third-grade teacher at Goshen; Martina Sasser, bus driver; Laurie Ann Caudill, bus driver; Michael W. Garrett, bus driver; Jamilya Coleman, PCHS cheerleading and Erikka Knight, GHS band paid volunteer.

Approved 2015 Five Year Capital Plan.

Approved contracts for Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Services.

Approved financial statement and bank reconcilements for the month of August 2014.

Approved payment of payrolls for the month of August 2014 and account run date of 8/25/2014 through 9/9/2014.

Approved payment of ATBE General Liability / Errors and Omissions Coverage .

Approved permission for CNP to provide breakfast in the classroom for PCES 5th and 6th grade students.

Approved student transfers.

Approved permission for GHS Baseball team to participate in an overnight baseball tournament at Leroy High School Feb 27-28, 2015.

Approved permission for Gilda Belcher, TPCT, to attend the New Cumberland Center in West Virginia for a Simulated Workplace site visit to be paid for with Perkins and/or Tech Teachers That Work grant monies.

Went into executive session to hear an appeal by a parent on administrative decisions and pending legal matters.