At a special year-end meeting last Thursday, the Mathews County School Board adopted a resolution asking county supervisors to allow the division to use the approximately $11,000 remaining in excess revenues to replace a dishwashing machine for the Lee-Jackson Elementary School cafeteria.
The board met at 7:30 a.m. in the school board office conference room to approve payment of its final claims for the 2010-2011 school year. With the payments being made, the school system ended the year with a $0 balance, based on its $12.3 million budget.
However, the school had $11,126.28 in "excess revenue"—unbudgeted money from sources such as federal Title I funding.
"It’s a little too close for comfort for me," vice chairman Jen Little said of working down to a zero balance. However, she added, it is "impressive how we were able to stay within budget with a very, very tight budget." She went on to praise the central office staff for their diligent work reining in expenses.
Superintendent of Schools David J. Holleran said that the kitchen staff at Lee-Jackson has been "nursing" the dishwasher at that school for several years, and it is long overdue for replacement. He has requested bids for a new stainless steel dishwasher that must be custom made, in order to fit the space available.
The board also approved a bid for a new school bus from Sonny Merryman, Inc., in the amount of $80,131. Supervisors have already allocated the money for the purchase, and the new bus is expected to arrive within a month, Holleran said.
The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on July 19 in the Mathews High School media center. Holleran will be out of town on vacation then; assistant superintendent Nancy Welch will fill in for him. The board is expected to reorganize at the July meeting, electing its chairman and vice chair.
In other news, Welch said that the school division received 33 applications for the position of MHS principal. Finalists will be interviewed on July 11 and 12 by a panel including teachers, the school’s athletic director, community members and parents, who will submit their recommendation to Holleran.
In early June, principal Dave Malechek announced that he would be retiring as soon as a replacement is found.