Members of the Houston School Board heard information Monday night concerning possible cost cutting measures related to transportation.
According to Dr. Dan Vandiver, superintendent, transportation costs were more than $430,000 last year. State funding provided to the district to offset those costs was $129,000 and is expected to drop to zero by the 2012-’13 school year.
No action was taken by the board on the issue.
Also at the meeting, members:
–Revisited the idea of placing a cap on the amount the district pays for employee health insurance. The issue was being considered because of anticipated increases in health insurance rates and shortfalls in state funding within the next few years, according to Vandiver. The issue was tabled until more rate and budgetary information becomes available.
–Heard from Zac Rantz, communications coordinator for the Nixa School District, about strategies for improving school communications.
–Took no action after hearing a proposal for revising job descriptions for non-certified personnel.
–Set Feb. 26 as a daylong Saturday work session, which Vandiver said will allow an in-depth review of current realities and planning for meeting long range needs in the district.
–Were presented a proposal for adding Saturday school as a disciplinary consequence option in the high school. The proposal was tabled until the January board meeting.
–Tabled until January a change in the high school policy for accepting late work from students.