MonticelloLive

The Drew Central School Board held their Annual Public Meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m. 

The yearly budget is 90% complete and will be voted on during a special called meeting on Sept. 18.Superintendent Wayne Fawcett told those present that this year’s budget will be “drastically reduced”, compated to last year’s, and that the district will use the goal of keeping spending below revenues.

Mr. Johnton told the group that the elementary school was off to a good start.  With the 5th and 6thgrades being a part of the middle school, Johnston commented, “the new alignment will give me more opportunities, to interact with the grades 4 and below.”

Joy Graham, middle school principal, told everyone that everyone is getting adjusted well to the new  settings, and that the staff is developing a good relationship, while working together, and phasing in the 7th grade.

Frank Ferguson, high school principal, followed, telling about the upcoming scholastic audit, which will examine every aspect of the educational field.  There are 30 schools involved in the program, which will begin in around 6 weeks.

There are 431 pre-k through grade 4 students, 233 middle school students, and 381 high school students.

It was announced at the meeting that Drew Central had met the benchmark standards, and that if the district continues the progress this year, it will be removed from the school improvement list.

A brief question and answer segment followed, with the topic of the new construction being brought up.  Once bids are approved, some aspect of construction will probably begin immediately.  Ground preparation and similar projects won’t be affected by the recent rains.

Federal programs this year expect to receice: Title I-$302,893, Title IIa-$57,628, Title VIb-$22,936, and an after-school tutoring allotment grant of $132,105.  There is a reading first grant of $82,527, and a National School Lunch Act allotment of $600,155, which, combined with smaller portions, completes the federal program support that the district is set to receive.