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Munster board hears reports on testing gains, construction projects and rising utility costs
Summary
Superintendent and directors reported on testing gains (notable NWEA MAP percentile increases), construction and site projects, and a jump in utility expenses—monthly utilities rose to about $184,000 from $104,000 a year earlier; the board did not take formal actions on these reports.
Superintendent Dr. Hicks and district directors updated the board on instructional gains, facility projects and finances at the March 9 meeting.
Testing and instruction: Director of Elementary Education Hughes reported mid-year NWEA MAP gains comparing fall to winter results: kindergarten reading above the 80th percentile rose from 39% to 58%; first-grade reading increased from 34% to 45%; fifth-grade math rose from 39% to 55%; and fourth-grade math increased from 43% to 53%. "The gains that I've highlighted reflect a strong dedication to instruction, targeted support of our students, and the hard work our students and staff are performing on a daily basis," Hughes said.
Facilities and operations: Director of Operations Begley briefed the board on multiple projects: storm-trap system delivery and excavation for the TENS facility; a recent groundbreaking for the tennis facility; completion of the Eads outdoor classroom; upcoming bid issuance for a central-campus multipurpose building; and locker installations slated to ship next week. Begley said the district is coordinating with contractors to avoid major disruptions during drop-off and pickup.
Finances and utilities: Chief Financial Officer Melby noted an unusual negative expenditure line in the education fund tied to advance spending on a high-ability grant that will be reimbursed, and said investments purchased earlier are yielding favorable interest returns. He flagged a sharp rise in the Operations Fund's monthly utility costs—about $184,000 this month versus about $104,000 in February of the prior year—calling the increase "heftier" given the number of district buildings.
No board action was taken on these informational reports. Directors said they would continue coordination with staff and bring procurement matters tied to construction to future meetings as needed.
