Following public hearings, the Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget and set the tax asking to provide revenue for this budget.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Lenihan explained several portions of the budget, noting that there was a total increase of approximately $360,000 in the budget.
He said the levy for the General Fund for the coming year is $0.718684 cents per $100 valuation, down from $0.793144 last year. The bond levy is $0.146573 and the levy for the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Funds are $0.032456 and $0.033966 for the Special Building Fund.
This makes the total tax asking $0.931679 cents per $100 of valuation, down from $1.019535 last year.
Property valuations for the district are up 13% this year.
In other action, board members tabled making a decision on playground equipment for the Early Learning Center.
Dr. Lenihan told the board he had discussed the need for having two separate playgrounds at the facility with the Nebraska Department of Education. One of those would have been for the younger students and one for the older students. However, it was determined that if the equipment is age-appropriate and younger students are not allowed to use the equipment that is for older students, the building can have only one playground.
Additional information will be available at the board's next meeting and a decision made at that time.
Board members approved on second reading Policy 1210: Title IX - Discrimination. With the passage of this policy, the board will follow Title IX regulations in regard to prohibiting sex discrimination in education.
Dr. Lenihan told the board that the policy will allow for faster resolution of cases.
Payment No. 12 in the amount of $1,388,898.90 to Hausman Construction was approved. It was noted that nearly all the construction/remodel at high school is complete and the contractors are now moving to completion of the Early Learning Center.
Enrollment numbers as of Sept. 4 were shared with the board. At that time there were a total of 1,011 students enrolled in the district.
There are a total of 498 students at the Elementary School with the following class sizes:
Kindergarten - 65 students;
First grade - 67 students;
Second grade - 60 students;
Third grade - 76 students;
Fourth grade - 74 students;
Fifth grade - 64 students; and
Sixth grade - 92 students.
At the junior high, there are 151 students - 65 in seventh grade and 86 in eighth grade.
At the high school, there are 330 students:
Freshmen - 79 students;
Sophomores - 88 students;
Juniors - 96 students; and
Seniors - 67 students.
At the Early Learning Center there are 20 students in the four-year old program; 12 in the three-year old program and 16 in the two year age range.
Administrator reports included information on "Club Booths" during the Back-to-School Open House, Apply2College events, a pep rally focusing on "Respect" and "Sportsmanship" and the number of students enrolled in extra-curricular activities.
Rusty Parker, Foundation Director, shared information on recent events, including the Kevin J. Murray Fishing Tournament, a tailgate during the first football game of the season and a donation to be used for playground equipment at the new Early Learning Center.
In addition, an upcoming Taste of Victory Tailgate event will be hosted by Wayne America, Inc. with proceeds going to the Foundation.
The Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education will next meet in regular session on Monday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.
