Teutopolis School Board Hires Hanson, Discusses Budget and Enrollment Matters

The Teutopolis Board of Education has hired Jason Hanson as boys varsity basketball coach. Hanson succeeds Andy Fehrenbacher, who was not rehired as coach last month. More on this item is available on the basketball page of the website.

Teutopolis school board members Monday discussed an anticipated $286,000 deficit in the fiscal year budget. The deficit had been forecast at $48,000.

One problem is a missing quarterly payment from the State of $112,000. Unexpected expenditures have also been a problem. Board member Troy Ozenkoski noted that revenues aside from the missing quarterly payment have been right on target. The Board will hold a hearing on revising the budget at the June meeting.

Board members also heard that 75 students are anticipated in Kindergarten this fall. With three sections budgeted, it means an average of 25 Kindergarteners per class. Grade school principal Angie Sheehan said the ideal number per class would be 20, but officials agreed that the budget won't allow it. Sheehan said she is reworking her figures to see where aides could best be utilized to help with the numbers.

The Board heard that Sheriff Dave Mahon is asking for an increase in the fee paid for school resource officers. The fee would go to $10 per student next year, $13 the following year, and $15 the third year. The fee has been $8/student since 2005. Board members agreed to work toward a flat fee for high school students rather than charging fees for individual classes or services. It was also decided to hold off on a decision on group health insurance until next spring.

The Board agreed to split the cost of nursing services with the Dieterich and Beecher City districts, and approved Glass and Shuffett to do audit work. In personnel moves, the Teutopolis board accepted the resignation of Chris Stephens as teacher aide, and hired summer school teachers Laurie Drees and Cassidy Klitzing for Grades 1 and 2, and Kari McManaway and Cassidy Klitzing for the Summer Book Club Program for Grades 3 through 6. The Board also hired Emily Petty as Grades 7-12 Art instructor, and employed Brittany Meyer as junior high softball coach.