The Mount Gilead School Board opened its October meeting by honoring Kyle White’s deed of sportsmanship at the Ron Thill Invitational Cross Country meet. Board president Virgil Staley presented White with a certificate of recognition and read the story about him written by his coach, Jake Hayes.
“At the Thill meet, Kyle demonstrated great sportsmanship and displayed one of our most important cross country team core values of integrity,” Hayes said.
“With about 600 meters to go, Brett Shipman started displaying the signs of heat exhaustion. His legs were starting to give out and he was staggering to reach the finish,” Hayes continued.
“Approximately 100 meters from the finish line, Brett collapsed. As Kyle ran past, he stopped, put his arm under Brett’s and helped to pull him towards the finish line. In aiding another runner, per OHSAA rules, both Kyle and Brett were disqualified from the race.”
“These disqualifications ended up causing the boys team to lose the meet by three points. After the race Brett was taken to the hospital and teammates went to see him.”
“I am very proud of the character and integrity displayed by Kyle when a teammate was in need,” concluded Hayes. “Mount Gilead Cross Country wins and loses as a team, and I am glad that Kyle did the right thing, even if it cost the team the win. Wins and losses will be forgotten, but character and integrity influence life far beyond the field of competition.”
Five-year forecast
Treasurer Tonya Boyd presented the board and those attending the meeting with a power point presentation of district revenues and expenditures. She summarized with an overview of operating revenue and stated that the biggest challenges in general are state legislation enactments and continued losses in state funding.
Boyd anticipates a cut of three percent to the district’s guarantee in Fiscal Year 20-21 and another two percent cut for Fiscal Year 2022-23. Operating within existing revenue will require continual monitoring and reduction of expenses.
In expenditures Boyd notes that costs continue to rise in health care, open enrollment, building maintenance and required service contracts. The district has been forced to reduce staff to contain costs.
“The district made budget cuts nearly every year since Fiscal Year 2013 to be solvent and will continue to make adjustments again in 2019 in response to flat revenue growth,” Boyd said. “Cuts will be required to balance the budget and maintain adequate cash reserves.”
“Without increased funding in the district, deficit spending is projected in Fiscal Year 2020-2023,” Boyd said. “The state HB 49 shows no increase funding to our district. And the State is estimated to reduce the district’s guarantee amount by 3 percent in FY 2020-2021 and 2 percent in FY 2022-20-23.
Boyd welcomed all who have further questions to call or email her at [email protected]. All information presented can be viewed at the district website: www.mgschools.org. Click on the Departments heading, then Board of Education, on their page is a link to board documents. Teri Gray at the Superintendent’s office can help with questions about navigating the website.
The next Mount Gilead School Board meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
