MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon City Schools Board of Education took the first step Monday night to place a levy on the May 3 ballot.
The board voted to approve a resolution granting resolution will be sent to the county auditor to certify the millage needed to raise $2.5 million for operating expenses. Monday’s action does not mean the board must or will go forward with the levy; the board will consider that and other related issues in a special work session Jan. 19 to discuss financial matters.
The regular portion of the meeting began with a jump rope demonstration by Wiggin Street third-grader Mitchell Jessup. Physical education teacher Hillary Hess also talked about Wiggin Street’s focus on fitness at home and school to get families involved in an active and healthy lifestyle. Parent volunteer Kim Treber received the Wiggin Street Elementary “Behind the Scenes” award for her efforts in bringing people and ideas together to benefit the school.
Money matters were a recurrent theme throughout the meeting. Funding for a spring musical production was one topic discussed, and board members said the opportunity for performing arts is important. Superintendent Steve Short was directed to pursue alternate funding options and report back to the board. A proposed Debate Club field trip to a tournament in Huntington, W.Va., was another item on the agenda. While individual debate team members and fundraising will cover most of the cost of the trip, the club asked the board to provide funding for the transportation costs. Board members voted to approve the trip and to provide 50 percent of the transportation costs, or approximately $600.
In addition to approving routine fiscal actions, the board accepted the donation of $100 to the high school from the Pork Council to be used by the FCCLA. It also renewed membership in the Ohio School Boards Association, contracted with Discovery Education Inc. to provide educational streaming in the middle school, and approved two agreements with CenturyLink for phone lines at the middle school and ethernet services connecting all of the buildings.
