Board hears financial update, approves consent agenda including robotics and operational purchases

At its meeting, the Ohio County School Board received a financial-condition update and approved its consent agenda unanimously.

Mr. Bennett (S5) presented the financial update, saying the district has planned for a decline in tax revenue and is now seeing that decline but has maintained healthy carryovers by curbing spending. Bennett told the board he expected the property-tax-value documentation from the assessor by March 3. "Not a concern because we've been planning for this," he said, summarizing that carryovers allowed the district flexibility.

During the consent-agenda review, board members discussed several specific expenditures. Staff explained a $13,000 payment tied to the Highland robotics program and a $2,026.78 payment for service-personnel professional development (a keynote/motivational speaker) were funded from program or carryover accounts. The board also noted a $4,800 tuition reimbursement to Marshall University and a $3,540.46 purchase for nine 32-gallon mosaic trash cans used in offices/athletic areas. For two checks to Bigfoot Concrete Coatings LLC related to Philadelphia locker-room floors, staff said payments reflected final checks and retainage handling.

A motion to accept consent agenda items 8.1 through 8.4 was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. No consent items were pulled for separate action.

The board set a public hearing on the school calendar for Monday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. regular meeting, and discussed possibly moving an LSIC meeting to avoid scheduling conflicts.