The Tipton R-VI School Board held a public hearing on the matter of the 2015-16 school calendar a few minutes before the regular board meeting began. Two calendar options were reviewed with Brenda Oesterly of the Calendar Committee doing the presentation.
Option I, which was the choice of about 96 percent of the teaching staff and Superintendent Scott Jarvis, was approved by the board. School will start Aug. 13, with a 10-day Christmas break and a five-day spring break. Under the other proposed calendar, school would have started Aug. 20, with an eight-day Christmas break and a three-day spring break. Under both options, graduation day was set for May 15.
The board also approved the Midwest Computech proposal for technology upgrades to be paid for through the new E-rate Category II funding. This was the only company to submit a proposal.
Jarvis updated the board on the meeting with the creator of the budget program the district uses. He spoke of changes in the way the state will fund the budget for 2015-16, saying that the "district will be adversely affected by this new formula."
Other items Jarvis discussed several other items. To keep the benefit of summer school revenues, summer school must continue. He said plans are to pre-bid the gym floor project to get it done in the summer, after the bond issue is passed by the voters.
There are plans to meet with the Salary Committee to have a proposal for the board by the march meeting. he will also be meeting with the architect and the construction manager to discuss and issue of the close proximity of a sewer main to some of the planned construction.
Elementary Principal Kelly Kohler reported current enrollment for K-6 at 281. January attendance was 95.17 percent.
Junior High / High School Principal Ellen Allee reported seventh and eighth grade enrollment at 91. High school enrollment was reported at 236.