Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - Whitko School Board will work with state examiners to find a way to cope with the unexpected shortfall in state funding for the 2001 budget, Whitko's school superintendent said Monday.
"We built the budget with the amount of money forecast by the state," said Superintendent Dr. William Worl. "We will have to cut out of our projected budget that amount of money."
Indiana officials announced earlier this month that because of an error in calculating the state funding formula, some schools would receive less for 2001 than originally promised. Whitko Schools will get approximately $182,000 less from the state than they had planned, finance director Phil Menzie said Sept. 6.
The projected 2001 budget is approximately $15 million.
Worl said Monday that budget cuts will probably affect personnel costs, since those are approximately 85 percent of the school corporation's budget.
"But it may be across the board that we may need to look at," he said.
In other business:
• The board approved reducing the 2000 transportation appropriations $20,000: $10,000 in gas and lubricants and $10,000 in vehicle maintenance.
• Principal William Hoppus said South Whitley Elementary will have open house Sept. 26, book fair Sept. 25-29 and the school cookout will be Sept. 26.
• Pierceton Elementary, which has 498 students this year, will hold its spirit day parade Oct. 13. Principal Ruth Jones said about 110 students are participating in the after-school tutoring program. She also said construction is continuing at the school.
• The board recognized students Phillip Camden, Blake Hike, Samantha Miller, Krista Haywood, Janelle Kelley and Tyler Matthew Secor for being selected for Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy.
• The board recognized Whitko High School teacher Luke Hunt for being named to the board of directors for Hoosier Association of Science Teachers Inc., and Pierceton Elementary teacher Michelle Ball as one of 20 finalists out of 406 educators for the Project E Excellence in Education Teacher Award.
