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Thompson School Board approves small lunch‑price increase, moves FY24 lunch debt into surplus and adopts policies
Summary
At its Aug. 12 meeting, the Thompson Board of Education approved a $0.10 per‑meal increase for 2024–25, authorized settling under $2,800 in FY24 lunch debt from surplus (one abstention), adopted nine revised policies, approved a revised 2024–25 calendar and approved student handbooks with minor edits.
Thompson Board of Education members at a regular meeting Aug. 12, 2024 at Thompson Middle School approved a modest increase in school lunch prices for the 2024–25 school year, authorized settling outstanding FY24 lunch debt from district surplus, and adopted a package of revised policies.
Board Chairman Kathleen Herbert opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and asked members to return Superintendent evaluation forms by Aug. 30 so a special meeting can be scheduled to review them. District staff reported that enrollment on Aug. 1 was 792 students district‑wide and that FY24 unpaid lunch debt totaled $2,700. Melinda Smith told the board she will notify families with negative meal balances.
On a pair of finance items, the board voted to move the settlement of FY24 lunch debt, less than $2,800, out of the FY24 surplus. The motion was made by Matthew Polsky and seconded by Jessica Bolte; it passed with Justin Yong recorded as abstaining. Separately, the board approved a recommended $0.10 per‑meal increase to meet state standards: elementary lunch prices will rise from $2.90 to $3.00, and middle‑ and high‑school lunches will rise from $3.25 to $3.35. That motion was made by Jessica Bolte, seconded by Kristin Schultz, and passed unanimously.
The board also approved several routine governance items. Members accepted the June 10, 2024 regular meeting minutes and the July 11, 2024 special meeting minutes (motion by William Witkowski; seconded by Jessica Bolte; unanimous). They approved the student handbooks with minor revisions (motion by Jessica Bolte; seconded by Justin Yong; unanimous) and accepted a revised 2024–25 school calendar that makes May 22, 2025 a half day for all students (motion by Jessica Bolte; seconded by Matthew Polsky; unanimous).
On policy, the board unanimously adopted nine revised policies reviewed by the Policy Sub‑Committee, including Non‑Lapsing Education Fund, Attendance and Excuses, Truancy, Ages of Attendance, Homeless Students, Work Permits, Smart Phone and Internet Connected Devices, CHRI Proper Access/Use/Dissemination Procedures, and School Climate Policy (motion by Jessica Bolte; seconded by Matthew Polsky).
In old‑business discussion, Jessica Bolte requested an updated bullying report and asked whether text‑box responses from district surveys could be extracted for use by a Culture & Climate team. Justin Yong asked for status on HR exit interviews and sought details about an incident at the middle school at the end of the prior school year; Melinda Smith said she has the full report and that principals and staff will provide information. Mr. Yong also asked about a generator; Mrs. Smith said the radiator has been ordered but the unit is not yet fixed.
During Citizens’ Comments, Board of Finance member Nicola Chrzanowski relayed parental concerns that meetings have lacked sufficient communication and urged the board to share both positive and negative information rather than omit difficult items.
The board adjourned at 9:28 p.m. after a motion by Jessica Bolte, seconded by Kristin Schultz, which passed unanimously.
Key next steps recorded in the minutes include returning superintendent evaluation forms by Aug. 30, follow‑up on the bullying report and exit‑interview details, and continued work on generator repairs and related facilities items.
