School calendar to see changes
Several changes surrounding the start date of school as well as a new graduation date were among the updates included in the 2019-20 calendar that was approved by the Re-1J Board of Education at its April 16 meeting.
This fall, classes will start a few days later than in recent years, and there is a different start date for K-6 students than for those in grades 7-12.
Holyoke JR/SR High students will start school Wednesday, Aug. 21. The plan cites a registration date of Thursday, Aug. 15.
Holyoke Elementary School will begin classes Thursday, Aug. 22, with Wednesday, Aug. 21, set aside for parent-teacher interaction and for students to take their backpacks and supplies to their classrooms.
In a move that has been requested for some time, the board bumped graduation off Mother’s Day to the following Sunday, May 17, 2020. It was noted that state competition for spring sports looks to move later in the month, which makes the later graduation date attractive.
The last day for the 2019-20 school year will still be prior to Memorial Day, as a half day Friday, May 22.
Superintendent Kyle Stumpf said the calendar still accommodates up to four days for school cancellation due to weather conditions.
New-teacher inservice/orientation dates have been set for Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 12-13, with inservices for full teaching staff scheduled for Aug. 14-16 and 19-20, Sept. 20, Oct. 14, Nov. 18, Jan. 6 and 17, Feb. 24 and April 14.
Parent-teacher conferences in the fall and spring will be conducted on the same days at both schools this year. Those are set for Oct. 7-8 and March 9-10.
Financials show district is tracking toward increase in reserve
Reporting on third-quarter financials, budget and finance director Ben Rahe said the district is currently tracking toward an increase in the reserve funds.
While a draft of the 2019-20 budget has been completed, Rahe said they’re waiting on final revenue projections from the State regarding both full-day kindergarten and rural funding before taking any numbers to the board.
Overall, the percentage of revenues received to date is almost identical to the previous year, according to Rahe. And after budget adjustments in January, the district is still trending ahead of expenditure projections, he added.
It was positive news when Rahe reported that new controllers in the chiller for the JR/SR high heating/ventilation/air conditioning system have been built, and air conditioning could be up and running by the end of April.
Other business
In other business April 16, the school board:
— Held a 20-minute executive session at the close of the meeting with Stumpf to discuss the superintendent’s informal evaluation.
— Reviewed information on two Colorado Association of School Boards policies: civil rights complaint procedure for school nutrition program and professional support personnel salary schedule involving a draft proposal for bus drivers.
— Approved first reading of four CASB policies that were presented April 2 and second reading of six policies presented March 19.
— Heard a legislative update from board member Jon Kleve on the status of bills affecting school districts.