Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Area School Board Monday approved both amendments to the 2012-’13 budget and an $8 million 2013-’14 budget.
The budget calls for $1,738,474 in local taxes, around $5 million in state aid and $549,760 in federal aid.
Superintendent Tim Kolesar said the entire budget amounts to $7,990,885.
The school district is left with an estimated fund balance of $379,875, pending the upcoming annual audit.
We’re not in deficit and we’re in no danger of being in deficit,” Kolesar said.
Lunch program
The board approved a motion to increase the price of meals.
Board president Steve Thomas said the state of Michigan is requiring food programs to increase prices because of federal regulations on healthy school meals. According to Kolesar, the district meals will cost around $2.59.
Currently, the price of meals for students in kindergarten through fifth grade is $2.25 and it’s $2.65 in grades six through 12. Seconds on entrees cost students 50 cents.
After reviewing data from the state, Kolesar said prices will be increased to $2.40 for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and $2.75 for sixth through 12th grades. Seconds on entrees were increased to $1.
“The average cost between $2.40 and $2.75 is $2.59, just like the state wants it to be,” Kolesar said.
Consolidation letter
During May’s board meeting, the board approved a motion to write a letter to the Bessemer and Wakefield-Marenisco school districts for possible consolidation of schools in the future.
“We just want to be part of the conversation,” Kolesar said. “Every kid from Ironwood to Marenisco should have the same curriculum so they can handle the challenges they’ll face in higher education. We have to prepare all of our kids.”
The letter will be mailed out today, and according to Kolesar, it’s to “start talking.” The letter asks that each district respond to the consolidation in writing, and says the board “looks forward to a response from each district regarding the education of our students.
“Our goal is to see what we can do to prepare our kids, and all of our kids in the best way that we can,” Kolesar said.
For more information, call the Ironwood School District at 906-932-0932.