After weathering some financial difficulties in the not-too-distant past, Riverside Local Schools has regained its fiscal footing through a number of cost-cutting measures and the support of area residents, officials said. The district’s improved financial outlook has afforded some new opportunities, including a motion approved at the Tuesday evening board of education meeting to waive all academic and athletic fees for the 2016-17 school year.
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Riverside Board of Education member Robert Bender checks out one of the district’s new Chromebooks following the Tuesday evening meeting. A total of 425 Chromebooks were recently purchased by Riverside for the one-to-one student-todevice program for grades five through 12 that begins with the upcoming school year. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MANDY LOEHR) |
Board members voted unanimously for the measure, noting that typically the school fees were approximately $50 for elementary pupils and then $25-$50 per class for high school students. Athletic participation fees previously were $65 for high schoolers and $35 for junior high students.
“This is a big one for our community — it’s a way that we as a school want to say ‘thank you’ for all of your support,” Superintendent Scott Mann said. “Our budget and the state budget has been favorable and we want to pass along some savings to our families.”
“We want to take the burden away from participating in school and athletics. I have six kids myself, so I understand how quickly the costs add up for families,” member Robert Bender said.
Refunds will be issued to individuals who have already paid their sports fees for 2016-17, administrators said.
Treasurer Lucas Ratliff said cost savings in the district have been realized through a variety of efforts, including the energy efficiency upgrades recently completely with the House Bill 264 project.
“These savings are one of the reasons we can do things like waiving the school and athletic fees and purchasing the Chromebooks for the new one-to-one program,” he said.
The district is rolling out its one-to-one student-to-device program for grades five through 12 with the upcoming school year after approving the purchase of 425 Chromebooks at their June meeting, as previously reported in the Examiner. Tuesday night, board members had the chance to take a look at this new technology with several Chromebooks that were on display.
Also at the meeting, members approved a new three-year negotiated contract with the Riverside Education Association, which is effective from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2019. The new contract includes a 3 percent raise for 2016-17, and then in the following years, a 2 1/2 percent raise in 2017-18 and a 2 1/4 percent raise in the final year of the contract.
“I want to thank the union for the way they conducted the negotiations; they were very congenial,” Mr. Mann said. “It is a fair contract for both sides.”
For additonal Riverisde BOE news, read Wednesday’s Examiner.