Washington Evening Journal
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W’burg Board of Education hears proposed budget
By Ann Agley, Special to The Journal Tribune
Apr. 13, 2023 12:59 pm
Dr. Chad Garber, superintendent, presented his report on the proposed 2024 budget to the Williamsburg School Board at the board meeting Wednesday, April 12. Currently, enrollment is up overall and the district has added over 25 students from the 2021-2022 year to the current school year.
Dr. Garber explained, “Open enrollment is a positive trend for the district. More students are more revenue for the district, but expenditures are on the rise. The cost of things are increasing and there is going to be more for operating costs overall.” The proposed budget keeps the property tax levy at last year’s level of $14.33.
A public hearing was held for the 2024 fiscal year budget with no public comments. The board voted unanimously to approve the 2024 budget.
The board approved the hiring of a shared Work Based Learning Coordinator with Sigourney Community schools. Wade Van Vark will be joining both districts and will work as a 50 percent employee for both. Duties will include preparing districts for standardized testing, state reporting and overseeing various funding obligations.
The board approved to set a public hearing for May 10 before the scheduled school board meeting for an amendment to current budget for 2023, to meet the budget shortfalls. The board also approved requests for the high school robotics team to travel to Dallas, Texas, for competition in April and the high school Spanish club for optional trips abroad to Spain in 2024 and Costa Rica in 2025.
Other agenda items approved include team sport sharing agreements, Swigart Scholarships for $45,000 in total and the summer meal program which will offer meals twice a week for the month of June.
Bett Zirkel, Mary Welsh Elementary principal, presented the new proposed logo for the Mary Welsh Elementary. The logo is a knight mounted on a horse, holding a pennant shaped flag in red, white and black colors. Zirkel explained not everyone has a positive view of what a raider is and “that there is some association with the NFL team that has a pirate logo. We would like to view the raider like a crusader.”
Zirkel asked community members, “Where did the raider (mascot) come from?” He did not get a clear answer beyond agreement Williamsburg has always had a strong connection to the raider as a mascot. The new logo was approved.
The next Williamsburg School Board meeting will be May 10at 6:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Junior/Senior High School.