Finance committee tables administrative-contract decisions, reviews preliminary budget and plans $18,022.48 activity-fund cleanup

The Hope-Page Public School District 85 Finance Committee met March 6 and reviewed the district’s preliminary 2024–25 budget while tabling several personnel-related decisions.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed proposed administrative contracts for 2024–25 (superintendent/HS principal and assistant superintendent/elementary principal) and examined intent-to-rehire information for noncertified staff, including the business manager and other support staff. Both items were tabled for additional review and will return to a future committee meeting for further consideration.

Committee members reviewed the preliminary budget for 2024–25 and discussed next steps: finalizing salaries and benefits for administration and noncertified staff and prioritizing any major building repairs and expenditures. The committee requested that the Policy and Technology Committee provide an update on planned technology purchases tied to the end of the district’s current laptop lease before finalizing technology spending.

On fund accounting, the committee agreed to bring a fund-balance cleanup item to the full school board. The proposal is to transfer $18,022.48 from the District Activity Account to eliminate negative balances in four activity accounts: Speech, Student Council, National Honor Society and Clothing. The committee recorded the transfer amount and said the item will be presented to the full board for formal approval; no vote on the transfer was taken at this meeting.

The committee did not record formal votes on administrative contracts or the budget at this session. The meeting adjourned at 10:53 AM.