KINGWOOD — Aurora School’s Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) presented the board of education with its wish list for FY ‘19 “schools of isolation” money.
Krista Hayes told the board the LSIC hopes that more of the $100,000 can be appropriated for its projects now that the county has a school levy. In the current fiscal year, about $18,000 was allocated for projects. The rest went for utilities and other items. Hayes presented a wish list totaling $28,000.
Education Program Allowances — also called schools of isolation funds — are appropriated by the state legislature as part of its budget.
Currently, four schools receive the funds: Pickens, Hacker Valley, Aurora and Meadow Bridge. The money is appropriated by the legislature each year to those schools based on their geographic isolation.
Educational Program Allowance funding began in FY2006 (which began on July 1, 2005). The funding started with just Pickens and Hacker Valley. Aurora and Mountain Institute were added in FY 2013 Meadow Bridge was added in FY 2016.
The LSIC’s asked to:
continue giving $3,000 the Born to Learn program. This started as a three-year grant funded project, but the grant has expired. Superintendent Steve Wotring said “the success they have had is second to none,” with the program.
restore the extra duty contract for the Little Learners teacher, who is volunteering now, and give $500 for program needs.
set aside $2,000 for an extra duty contract for someone to work at the library. County schools do not have librarians now, though Wotring said some schools have exceptional volunteer library programs.
allow $10,000 for new library books. Many are from 1993, when the school was built, Hayes said.
pay to update the computerized library check out system dating from the 1990s. Assistant Superintendent Brad Martin said a countywide program is being sought for this.
buy sound deadening panels for the combo gym, cafeteria and auditorium, and cordless microphones. “The sound is terrible.” Hayes said, and it is impossible to hear at plays and other activities. Wotring said staff will look at the current budget to see if the panels can be bought now.
help secure certified personnel for the school. Music and some other teachers at the school are not certified in the fields they teach, Hayes noted.
There are no requirements on how the money can be used by schools.
