Board hears budget, transportation and curriculum updates; district wins $100,000 CTE grant for health sciences

Crete Public Schools administrators updated the Board of Education on curriculum work, finances, transportation and facilities, and reported the district was awarded a $100,000 state grant to support career and technical education in the high school’s health sciences pathway.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Hayek told the board teachers spent late-May workshops building curriculum maps, unit pacing and formative assessments for preschool through 12th grade. He said staff completed work on English language arts skills (CKLA) for grades K–2 and that summer programming — including elementary and middle school “summer scholar” sessions and high school credit recovery — had begun. Free breakfast and lunch were provided at three sites during the district’s summer program, Hayek said.

Superintendent Dr. McDowell announced the district had won a $100,000 Revision Action grant that can only be spent on career and technical education. The grant will buy an anatomic “image table” for the health sciences pathway; the table is a touch-screen device that models donated human cadavers and includes three tablets for student groups. McDowell credited Joel, the district’s director of federal programs, and high school staff for writing the grant.

Chief Financial Officer (unnamed) reported the district is about 75% through the fiscal year with roughly $34 million in revenues and about $31 million in expenditures to date. The CFO said nearly 90% of expenses are salaries and benefits. The district’s nutrition fund has spent slightly more than its revenues for the year; the CFO said staff are discussing whether to recommend rate adjustments for the next school year and will bring a recommendation next month.

On transportation, the chief of staff reported this was the district’s first full year operating buses directly rather than contracting the service. The district ran seven K–12 buses and maintained two preschool routes; one in-town route reached the district’s vehicle capacity of 71 students (the previous vendor capped routes at 48). The year-to-date cost for K–12 bus service was reported as $861,451 (estimated through July). Fee collection from families had declined; uncollected family payments were reported at $30,271. The district plans to open bus applications July 1 and use a soft close of July 25 to begin route planning.

Facilities updates included concrete patching at the high school and intermediate, playground leveling, replacing worn temporary classroom walls with drywall at the middle school, carpet replacement in an intermediate classroom, preschool classroom finishing work and clearing locker-room storage to provide space for CCLC at the intermediate building.

During his report McDowell also summarized a two-day district leadership retreat focused on being “present,” CliftonStrengths team work and a district-wide emphasis on data-driven dialogue to support instructional decisions.

The board approved the consent agenda — which included minutes, claims, bids, staff adjustments, the treasurer’s report and policy readings — by roll call. Board member Vince said he abstained from voting to approve a single check (check 163296) “out of an abundance of caution” but voted to approve the remainder of the consent agenda; the consent agenda passed with all board members recording “yes” on the final roll call.