The Eureka Springs School Board approved its 2022-2023 operating budget during its regular meeting on Sept. 12, and superintendent Bryan Pruitt said it was a group effort.
“When we do our budget, we bring in all of our principals and our department heads, and that’s how we build our budget,” Pruitt said. “We have a lot of ownership in it and a lot of people are involved in it to make sure that we spend our funds appropriately and according to the law and for all the kids.”
The district budget for this school year checked in at $15,537,145.69 with a beginning balance of $10,748,466.50 as of June 30, projected revenues of $10,867,691 and a projected ending balance of just over $6 million.
The largest expenditure will come from the district’s operating fund — $4,875,645.31 — followed by the building fund at $4.335 million. The district also expects to spend $3.226 million on teacher salaries.
In other business, the board approved its Statement of Assurances for programs under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
“That’s all your federal funds that we get in,” Pruitt said. “We have to make sure we spend those according to the rules and show our compliance on that.”
The board also approved the transfer of one student from Berryville and the transfer of another to Berryville before hearing reports from district principals.
At the elementary school, principal Clare Haozous shared the news that third-grade students from Eureka Springs will be performing in the opening ceremonies for Pioneer and Heritage Days in Berryville on Sept. 23 before touring the one-room schoolhouse at Pioneer Park and the oldest existing residence in Carroll County.
At the middle school, principal Caen Dowell shared news that teachers Zach Rankin and Kelly Swofford will be attending the National Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Leadership Forum on Oct 27-28 in Chicago. According to Dowell, the middle school is in the process of rebuilding the PBIS Leadership Team. One teacher member per grade level will meet regularly to discuss student discipline and ways to be proactive when trends appear.
At the high school, principal David Gilmore said “school is off to a pretty good start.”
“We are definitely up on enrollment but the teachers are doing well to handle the increases in class sizes,” Gilmore said. “[Rachal] Hyatt has done a nice job of spreading the students out as much as possible. Our new teachers are settling in nicely.”
Turning to personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation of Anne Lindvall effective Aug. 29 and approved the hiring of Kim Wolff as a six-hour food service worker.
The Eureka Springs School Board’s next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 10, at the district administration building.
