By Crystal Hayduk
The Chelsea School District (CSD) Board of Education meeting on June 26 began with a budget hearing.
Nicole Darby, chief financial officer, presented the latest versions of the 2022-23 general fund and special revenue final amended budget and the 2023-24 general fund, special revenue, and debt preliminary budget. Both budgets had been presented at recent meetings, but there were changes to the general fund as the finance department finalized figures at the end of the fiscal year.
With secretary Kate Henson absent, the board approved the 2022-23 final amended budget, with an ending fund equity of $5,247.564 (15.79% fund balance based on the previous year’s expenditures); and the 2023-24 preliminary budget, with an estimated ending fund equity of $4,998,681 (14.38% fund balance based on the previous year’s expenditures).
The board also approved the district’s 2023 tax rate request as presented by Darby. Property owners will be assessed 6.6 mills for the debt levy and 0.9009 mills for the sinking fund.
During the superintendent’s report, Mike Kapolka said there are 175 students attending summer school. This year’s programming targets students who need additional academic assistance or credit recovery. He said more than 90% of eligible students enrolled in summer classes.
Construction projects at the high school are underway. The high school office is temporarily closed due to the renovations. Anyone needing assistance may contact Vanessa Fisk at vfisk@chelsea.k12.mi.us.
Following up on public comment from the June 12 school board meeting, Kapolka said the district is communicating with the coach of the Warrior’s Shooting Team and neighboring districts who have similar teams about the possibility of permitting shooting as a new club sport. The sport is independent of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). There are issues to think through, including the potential need for added liability insurance. If the district approves the addition, it may begin in fall 2024.
In response to the public comment about graduation rates, Kapolka said CSD’s five-year average graduation rate is 97%. (Michigan’s average graduation rate is 81%.)
Kapolka also said Chelsea students have access to attending 24 career and technical education programs at five high schools. In the last three and a half years—under Julie Helber’s superintendency—robotics, cybersecurity, and exercise science have been added to the health occupations course available within the district.
A recording of the meeting can be viewed for one month here. (The recording was not available at press time.)
In other board news:
The board approved annual business-related and membership items as well as policy updates in consent action.
The board approved the purchase of two new security camera servers from InaComp, through the REMC SPOT statewide bid, for $37,975.56. The cameras will be paid for with security grants the district received earlier this year. One server will replace a server purchased in 2009, and the other will permit the planned addition of 60-100 security cameras in the coming year. Five years of support are included in the purchase.
Upcoming date:
The next board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on July 24 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
