The Discovery
Charter School Board met yesterday after student registration to look at
preliminary budget figures for the 2016 fiscal year.
Discovery’s per
pupil funding from the state is $5,338 per student. The state’s foundation
amount for public school funding is $4,984 for FY 2016.
Board President
Laurie Metz said according to the preliminary figures, the budget is “in
good shape.” That’s without the reportedly $500 that each charter school is
supposed to get per student from the state to help pay for facilities and
transportation.
“We still haven’t
received any information regarding (that),” Metz said.
The other board
members were optimistic too, even though the year end financials from this
last month were running in red. “It really isn’t an issue. Our cash flow is
good,” Metz told the Tribune.
American Quality
Schools staff accountant Tiffani Cooper, who is stepping in for Josh
Samuelson, said the numbers are likely to fluctuate between now and November
when the final budget is due.
Metz said she
doesn’t know how Discovery compares to the Duneland School Corporation in
the state’s funding formula for 2016. The DSC board is expected to see its
projected budget figures at its next meeting on Monday, Aug. 13.
In other matters,
the board’s effort on refinancing the school building continues to move
forward but there is still much to do. It is also changing contractors for
new construction and obtaining estimates.
Once the financing
is in place, the first project will be to complete the new cafeteria which
will be on the northwest side of the school close to where the existing
cafeteria is. Other additions being eyed are more classrooms and a
stand-alone gymnasium.
Metz said none of
the new construction will be on the five acres Discovery recently acquired
that will give it access to U.S. 20. All will be close to the main school
campus.
Dates to remember
Martinez said that
students will return for the first day of classes on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Teachers will go back to work on Aug. 12 to prepare for the new year.
Students and
parents can meet their teachers on Monday, Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Discovery.
Wednesday and
Thursday of this week were registration days for Discovery. Martinez said.
Enrollment for the 2015-16 is 520 students, an increase of 10 students from
last year.
Discovery Principal
Ernesto Martinez said new flooring for the cafeteria has been laid in time
for the upcoming school year.
There will be one
staff change, Martinez mentioned. Kindergarten teacher Kellie Niepokoj is
leaving Discovery and in her place the school has hired Elise Gustafson who
was a kindergarten helper last year. Martinez said Gustafson is a December
2014 graduate of Purdue North Central and lives in Chesterton.
Help wanted
One position
Discovery hopes to fill and is currently taking applications for is a
part-time special education instructional assistant, Martinez said. More
information on how to apply can be found on the school’s website,
disccharterschool.weebly.com.