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State sends extra money to assist McDonald schools
By Mary Smith
McDONALD
The McDonald School District will continue to see the kind of year-end cash balances in its five-year forecast that were projected in October.
Treasurer Bill Johnson said Monday the district was fortunate because even though all employees in bargaining units received a 0.275 increase this school year, the state again sent extra funds to the schools to assist in additions to the special-needs classes.
The state funds now comprise $349,000 for special-needs programs, an increase this year of $49,000.
That and other factors gave the district a bottom line of “excess revenues” of $2.619 million at the end of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Projections for fiscal year 2015 are a $3.546 million balance; 2016, $4.269 million; 2017, $4.799 million and 2018, $5.104 million.
Johnson noted the state, instead of giving the district an overall 6.5 percent increase, gave the district between 8 percent and 9 percent.
“We’re doing very well, financially,” Johnson said.
He noted, however, that the problem of funding much-needed capital improvements is one facing the board.
He said the high-school auditorium needs new seats and a new floor, the district has an empty swimming pool and other repairs are needed at the high school. The building was completely remodeled using an Ohio School Facilities Commission grant, but there are repairs that need to be done.
The board also accepted a donation of $37,000 from the Cherotti Family Fund of Akron Community Foundation to support the McDonald High School football program.
Timothy Cherotti, a McDonald graduate, told the board last month he plans to have drainage redone on the inner fence and around the football field. The fence also will be replaced.
More drainage will be installed on the track and the football field to alleviate wet spots.
Plans are also to re-level the football field and replant the grass on the field.
But the re-seeding and planned landscaping may not be done this year due to the wet weather.
He said the board is studying ideas for repairs and looking for capital- improvement funds in its budget.
The Cherotti family has donated to the district for the football program several times over the years.
The board also accepted another donation of $1,200 from the Track and Cross Country Booster Club.
Mike Helco, transportation supervisor, was rehired on a two-hour-a-day, 206-days-a-year contract with an increase to $15.45 an hour. The contract amount is for $6,365 from Aug. 1, 2014, to July 31, 2015.
The board hired Julie Lobaugh as new high-school secretary at $14.05 an hour in 2014-15 or a salary of $24,166, and $14.67 an hour in 2015-16, or $25,232 a year.
She replaces Cheryl Sloan, who is retiring.