Progress on Budget, New Principal Announced at School Board Meeting

The Mehlville school board unanimously passed a motion to move forward with a budget option that would allow for the allocation of funds for facilities and expenses in future years.

The option was one of five presented by Chief Financial Officer Noel Knobloch at the Thursday board meeting. The board followed the recommendations of Superintendent Terry Noble and Deputy Superintendent Eric Knost, saying the money set aside for future expenses may or may not be used, but would be available if necessary.

The motion allowed for one-time expenses such as replacing the fire alarm system in the high schools, looking into e-Learning readers instead of textbooks and any unpredicted facilities upkeep. These expenses would be listed in the budget, but not spent until needed. The option would reduce the district's reserves from 15 percent to 12.6 percent. 

“We’ve trimmed it up, and trimmed it even more,” Knost said about the budget. “We will have those expenses. We have too many buildings to think we’re not going to have an HVAC problem, asphalt hole and it’s not an option not to do it.”

The budget also would keep the district’s literacy coaches and Response To Intervention program. These two programs were previously funded by stimulus funds that will not be available for the next fiscal year.

“Let’s reserve the cash as long as we have it,” said board member Michael Ocello.

Aside from budget discussions, the board announced the new principal for Oakville High School. Janet Kellerman is taking the Tiger reins from retiring principal Bill Scheffler. Kellerman has been the assistant principal at Oakville for the last 11 years.

The board also officially recognized National Library Week throughout the district. April 10-16 will celebrate the area and school’s libraries, librarians and reading.

Editor’s Note: Above is a brief synopsis of the budget decision made Thursday. A more in-depth look at the budget and reductions will be coming next week.