Board approves consent agenda, sets graduation dates and asbestos plan; finance committee flags bus shortfall and deferred maintenance

At the Aug. 19 regular meeting, the Silver Consolidated Schools board approved routine business and took several action votes on scheduling and facilities policy.

Consent agenda: Director of Finance Michelle McCain asked the board to approve July checks totaling $498,106.52 and two budget adjustments: recognition of a $15,000 McKinney‑Vento award for education of homeless students and a $7,174.87 adjustment to Title V carryover. The board approved the consent items by motion and voice vote.

Graduation dates: The board set Silver High School’s graduation for May 23, 2025, and Cliff High School’s graduation for May 16, 2025; both motions passed by voice vote.

Asbestos management: Following the earlier six‑month asbestos surveillance report, the board approved the district’s 2024–25 asbestos management plan as presented.

Finance committee: Committee members reported an estimated $300,000 shortfall in the transportation budget and said the district will rely on contractor arrangements and route consolidations while recruiting drivers. The committee also highlighted approximately $62 million in deferred maintenance and urged voters to support renewing SB‑9 to preserve an annual maintenance allocation (reported as $1,000,000) that funds facility repairs.

Transportation: Transportation director Antonio Andesola described route consolidation (combining elementary, middle and high runs into single longer routes) to manage budget shortfalls, said the district continues to operate 15 buses, and noted activity driver numbers fell from 32 to 24 because of training/certification expirations; the district covers physicals and can facilitate CDL and first‑aid training.

No contested votes were recorded; most approvals were by unanimous voice vote as noted in the minutes.