Two hearings were held prior to the start of the regular meeting of the Wayne Community Schools Board of Education meeting.
A Budget hearing and a Tax Request Hearing were held in regard to the district's proposed 2025-2026 budget.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Lenihan explained the numbers in the budget and noted that the district's property valuation was up 12% from last year.
He also explained several of the line items in the budget, including the fact that the bonds used to finance the junior high addition to the high school were paid off in one-half the time, thereby lowering the bond tax rate.
No one from the public spoke during either of the hearings and during regular portion of the meeting, the board took action to approve the 2025-2026 budget with a total tax asking of $.85 per $100 of property valuation.
Dr. Lenihan thanked the board and said he "appreciates all the time the board has put in to create this year's budget."
Monday's regular meeting began with a presentation from three members of the Wayne Community Schools Athletic Boosters.
Brandon Hall, Mike Powicki and Brian Kesting were at the meeting to talk about some of the projects and activities the Booster Club has helped fund. These include the video board in the gym, jackets for all athletes, athletic passes for students and the purchase of Hudl, the service that allows fans the opportunity to view the games on a streaming platform.
The group emphasized that the organization works to support all programs in the school.
Board members gave approval for the purchase of three, 10 passenger vans for the district.
Dr. Lenihan told the board that the district had to stop using three of the vans currently in the district's fleet due to regulations that allow for no more than 10 students to be transported in a van.
The total cost for the three vans, which will be purchased from Olathe Ford Sales, Inc. in Olathe, Kansas and converted from 12 passenger to 10 passenger to meet these regulations is $191,508.
At the present time, local dealerships were not able to make the necessary conversions.
Dr. Lenihan added that having the new vans will "make transportation of students easier. We will still be able to use the vans we have to transport adults and equipment, but the regulations don't allow for transporting students in them."
In other action, the board approved the purchase of nine desktop computers for the drafting classes in the career area of the school.
The bid of $20,190.33 from Sterling was accepted and will allow for the updating of a portion of the computers. It was noted that the district will be eligible for reimbursement of some of the costs.
Two payments to Hausmann Construction were approved during the meeting.
The first of these was for $5,730 and included the costs of natural gas paid for by the contractor and a boiler switch that was needed at the Early Learning Center.
The second payment of $100,000 was part of the money the district has been holding in retention and for work completed on punch list items.
Dr. Lenihan told the board there is approximately $8,000 left in retention and he hopes to make the final payment at the board's October meeting.
Board members reviewed the job description for the bookkeeper position as the district works to fill the position. It was determined the position will be an hourly position with additional compensation based on experience.
During administration reports, Dr. Lenihan presented the fall district enrollment. He said that as of the meeting, there are 1,058 students in Pre-K through 12th grade. The third and eighth grade classes are the smallest, with 61 students in each, and the seventh grade is the largest with 101 students.
The Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education will next meet in regular session on Monday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.
