Hume School Board sets 2015 tax levy

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Nevada Daily Mail

The Hume School Board set the tax levy at the 2007 voter approved rate of $5.2592 at its August meeting, then voted unanimously that the levy be rolled back to $5 for the 2015-16 school year.

Superintendent David Quick told the board that the district's July payment was "well above the estimated projection. We are in good shape and ready for the upcoming school year," he said of the school system's finances.

Quick also shared other positives with the board, including the district's test scores. He said he was "very pleased with the elementary scores" and glad to see some improvement in the high school scores. He stated that since the district has put up the Student Hall of Fame, "Our test scores continue to improve and we continue to add students each year."

He said he is "very proud of our teachers for utilizing the laptop computers and preparing our students well for testing."

During his superintendent's report, Quick reported that the interior gym doors had been replaced and that the gym doors can now be locked with a key.

He also reviewed board training dates at Tan Tara Oct. 1-4, with registration due by Sept. 1. He also stated the MARE Board training would be held later in October.

Quick handed out policy updates for the board members to review before approving at the next regular board meeting. He did comment that a new policy would allow Hume to claim eligible preschoolers that qualify for Free/Reduced Lunches in the district's ADA, but not to exceed 4 percent of the total number of students who are between the ages of 3 and 18 who are included in the district's average daily attendance.

Principal Kirk Hart stated that 2015-16 enrollment day is Aug. 13. The Golden Valley Vernon County Conference Professional Development day is Aug. 17 and has been moved to Ballard due to construction at Montrose.

Assistant Principal Scott Morrison told the board that he and Mr. Hart attended a conference in Columbia July 26-28 and received "good" information on different subjects.

He reported that Hume would have eight students attending Vo-Tech, which starts Aug. 20.

Morrison reported that the bus driver training would cover different areas of safety. He also informed the board that David Brooks had agreed to drive the bus to ballgames.

The board approved the July minutes, August bill payments, a district wide evaluation of Discipline and School Climate, the 2015-16 north, south and Vo-Tech bus routes, and the 2015-16 Annual Secretary of Board Report.

In other items, the board voted to accept the trash bid at $247 per month for the next two years from Countrywide Disposal.

The board accepted the milk bid from Hiland Dairy and the bid from OPPA! Food Service.

The board voted to approve the diesel fuel bid at $0.08 over cost at the time of delivery from MFA.

The board approved the appointments of:

* Cynthia Whiting as the 2015-16 preschool aide.

* Matt Berry as junior girls' basketball coach.

* Melody Wikoff as preschool administrator and board meeting clerk.

* Scott Morrison as athletic director and elementary girls basketball coach.

* Delanya Thompson as varsity volleyball and varsity girls' basketball coach.

* Mark Byrd as junior high boys' basketball and elementary boys' basketball coach.

* Justin Wehar as varsity boys' basketball coach.

* Tammy Metcalf as softball coach.

* Jackie Duncan as yearbook sponsor, technology coordinator, and student council.

* Rodney Blakeman as junior class sponsor.

* Ken Wheeler as senior class sponsor.

* Carrie Sutcliffe as Academic Bowl coach, junior class sponsor and Science Olympiad coach.

* Jaleana Wehar as senior high cheer coach, drama coach and senior class sponsor.