Humboldt in the pink

HUMBOLT — Members of Humboldt’s school board last night got a bit of good news: this year’s budget will be a little thicker, thanks to increased enrollment.
About $84,000 will be added to the budget, based on per pupil state aid of $4,012, said USD 258 superintendent Bob Heigele. The 2009-2010 school year saw enrollment of 528 full-time equivalent students, Heigele said. “I built this budget for 495 FTE.”
The amended budget will be published this week and may be approved at a special meeting before May’s board meeting, Heigele said.
The discrepancy was discovered through a state audit earlier this year, board clerk Lori Buchholz said.
The board will begin work on the 2010-2011 budget once aide figures are released by the state, Buchholz said.
Minimum bid for the district’s building trades home was set at $90,871.26. The 1,700 square foot, three bedroom, two bath house at 1220 Cherokee St. will be open for viewing April 24. The board hopes to confirm a buyer at its May meeting, Heigele said.
ANW coop is taking preliminary steps to replace two buses and two minivans. Both buses have had mechanical problems, and the vans, 1994 and 1998 models, are both “closing in on 100,000 miles,” said ANW representative Don Hauser.

HIGH SCHOOL journalism instructor Kimberly Isbell was selected as one of 35 teachers nationwide to attend an American Society of News Editors institute at Arizona State University June 13-25.
ASNE will foot the bill for Isbell’s travel and expenses, high school Principal K.B. Criss said. The educational program will be “intensive” with mandatory attendance at “all classes and activities” — day and evening — a letter from ASNE noted.
Isbell will be eligible for continuing education credit. In addition, she will receive journalism resources for her classroom for the 2010-2011 school year.
Both elementary and middle schools are doing well on state assessments, the board was told. Most test results have been in the 80s and 90s. Testing is still ongoing; full results will be known in about a month.
A recent snow day will not be made up, the board decided. Instead, teachers will receive May 19 off, with pay.
Board member Sandy Whitaker noted the day can serve as a thank you to teachers for their efforts leading to the high test scores.
Hailey Schoenballer’s high school language arts classroom has been remodeled into a tech rich class, Heigele said. Schoenballer should begin using the new equip soon.
Heigele hopes to have additional classes remodeled over the summer, he said.
About 25 elementary Title 1 students of Linda Rinehart sent letters to the state legislature explaining how budget cuts impact them, Heigele said. Board members were given copies of some of the letters.
The board accepted the resignation of elementary aide Mary Bonczkowski, who worked for the district 24 years.
Three licensed day care providers are seeking zoning permits to allow care centers in R-1 residential areas near the schools, Heigele informed the board. Permits have been sough by Herod Zellner, Joseph Bonczkowski and Andy and Charity Seufert. It is unusual for three such requests to come at the same time, Heigele noted.
High School graduation is set for 5 p.m. May 15 at the Community Fieldhouse.