BELLVILLE, Ohio — Clear Fork middle and high school students will be receiving new math books this year. School board members voted Thursday night to purchase a six-year license for math materials from Pearson Textbooks.
Stacy Swank told board members that the total cost would be $123,486 to provide new textbooks for sixth through twelfth grade. She said that the cost breaks down to $21.67 per student, per year.
Jim Klenk pointed out that the district has not purchased new curriculum in any subject for the last decade. He said he believed the move is necessary and that new materials would be purchased for other subject areas over the next five years.
Board president Jim DeSanto indicated that earned income tax receipts, which are used for operational costs in the district, will be used to cover the costs of the math materials. The income tax was narrowly passed by voters in 2012.
The district is purchasing a six year license for the math materials. Swank explained that the license grants access to online features during that time period.
Swank said teachers liked the online applications provided because, “the online components have analytic tools that can identify student strengths and weaknesses.” Swank explained these features provide a type of individualized instruction. Online features can also be accessed by students at home. Officials say last year 775 laptops were available for Clear Fork students to use at home.
Supplies and textbooks made up only 3.3 percent of Clear Fork’s expenditures last year. Treasurer Bradd Stevens provided those figures to board members in the annual financial report. The report indicated the general fund revenues were $930,218 more than expenses in 2014-15 school year. Stevens reported the district finished the year with $7.7 million on hand.
One source of income for Clear Fork stems from more students transferring into the district than those who leave through open enrollment. Last year 185 students came to Clear Fork verses 55 who left for other schools, Stevens said. This provided $1,091,782 for the district.
While income figures for Clear Fork are general positive according to Steven’s report, the food service fund continues to plummet. Down nearly $100,000 since 2012 the food service fund has been steadily declining. Clear Fork is one of many school districts facing a similar challenge.
Superintendent Janice Wyckoff acknowledged that recent changes in government standards for school lunch programs appears to be leading to higher costs because “healthy food costs more.” Another factor is that more students are bringing their own lunches. “We are trying to find healthy options that kids like,” Wyckoff said, suggesting that that might encourage students to buy a lunch at school.
DeSanto noted that last year the district increased the price of school lunches saying he preferred not to raise prices again. Stevens said officials in the district are considering ways to reduce expenses.
