Board roundup: Harper Creek adopts revised budget, approves hires and routine authorizations

The Harper Creek Board of Education at its Jan. 12 meeting approved several routine and substantive items including annual authorizations, a consent agenda, a revised 2025–26 budget and a new high-school hire.

Officers and annual authorizations: The board retained the current slate of officers for 2026 (President Beaufeste; Vice President Barry Smith; Treasurer Sarah Wallace; Secretary Aaron Allard) and approved standard annual authorizations — depository banks, account-signatory designations, meeting schedule (second Monday each month at 6 p.m.), and designated administrative roles for electronic transfers and recording duties. The motions carried on roll-call votes recorded as unanimous.

Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda without discussion on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Revised 2025–26 budget: Finance Director Obermeyer presented the revised-budget resolution and explained key changes. She said the foundation allowance used in the revision was $10,050 (the board had budgeted $10,000), which increased revenue by about $136,000. Enrollment was reported up 35 FTE from the spring count (a correction in the packet noted the district count should be 2,745), adding roughly $350,000 in revenue. Obermeyer said a decrease in anticipated retirement funding produced a substantial offset — she estimated a negative swing of roughly $600,000–$800,000 — which leaves the budget bottom line negative in the revised document but with an estimated fund-balance percentage near 14–16%.

Obermeyer said additional changes included updated grants (Grow Your Own) and an increased special-education indirect payment (discussed around $450,000). The board voted to adopt the revised budget by roll-call (unanimous).

Personnel: The board approved a new hire for the high school: Brian George (high-school math, MA13). The motion to approve the hire passed on a roll-call vote, recorded unanimous.

Facilities and safety updates: Facilities staff reported that donated weight-room equipment has been ordered (delivery expected in 11–12 weeks) and confirmed the district will host the Wall That Heals display in late January. Superintendent Ridgeway provided a school-safety update and noted the district is considering a February discussion on a recommended policy that classroom doors be locked during the school day; Ridgeway also suggested studying a full-time school-safety director position if funding is available.

Public comment: A resident, Abel Hiersama, urged the board to prioritize investments that have a direct impact on student success and questioned spending on amenities such as signage vs. direct student supports.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.