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City of Centerville <br /> Council Meeting Minutes <br /> September 12,2018 <br /> Whitwam, Principal — Centerville Elementary School and Mr. Bob Stevens, Principal — <br /> Centennial Middle School. He stated that all would be speaking but every attempt would be <br /> made to keep the discussion on track and condensed. <br /> Superintendent Deitz gave an overview of Centennial's annual reports of a period of six (6) years <br /> discussing high test results, school recognition, graduation rates, an upcoming New York Times <br /> article along with thanking Council and the community for their support. <br /> Principal Whitwam gave an update on growth, reaching their goals, the AVID program and loss <br /> of teachers. <br /> Principal Stevens explained the AVID program and its introductions to 6 t graders this year <br /> stating that the program attempts to teach preparedness, organization and readiness. He stated <br /> that these skills will assist students throughout high school and college. <br /> Principal Breuning explained the LEAP program (Lunch, Energize, Achieve and Participate) he <br /> stated that it is an hour long and it allows kids an opportunity to focus on their social and <br /> emotional needs which better equips them to handle the academic piece of school. He briefly <br /> touched on Advanced Placement courses which ultimately save families money if their child(ren) <br /> chose to continue their education through college or vocational school. <br /> Exec. Director Johnson discussed the upcoming levy questions on the ballot for 2018, stated that <br /> the school district is asking for additional support from its residents and businesses due to lack of <br /> funding increases in voter approved operational funding since 2005, the state's general <br /> educational funding has not kept up with inflation since 2003, they have reduced their budget by <br /> $5.1 million over the past three years, $9.3 million over the past five years and $17.2 million <br /> over the past nine years. He stated that over the past three years, over 60 full-time positions (22 <br /> teachers and 25 paraprofessionals) have been cut along with supplies, technology, athletics, <br /> textbooks, etc. They discussed the two questions that would be on the ballot stating that <br /> Question 41 must pass for Question 42 to pass. He also stated that Question 41 involves <br /> operational funding which relates to $650/student for the next 10 years and adds $1.25 million <br /> back to the budget (14 teachers or 50 paras). He stated that this would have a tax implication of <br /> $332.94 property tax increase annually for an averaged home valued at $225,000 or $27.74 per <br /> month. He reported that Question 42 involves capital funding which would contain enclosure of <br /> the outdoor corridor that connects the east and west buildings at the High School, updates aging <br /> facilities; lighting and sound systems in the Fine Arts facilities at the High School and Middle <br /> School along with refrigeration and rink at the Hockey Area. He stated that it would also replace <br /> aging technology: SMARTBoards and LCD projectors that are at their end-of-life cycle and <br /> originally purchase with grant funding which is no longer in place for such purchases. He also <br /> stated that this would have a tax implication of $65.14 property tax increase annually for an <br /> averaged home valued at $225,000 or $5.43 per month. <br /> Superintendent Dietz thanked the Council for their continued support. <br /> Council Member King questioned the necessity of additional schools and Superintendent Dietz <br /> stated that projections for growth do not necessitate additional facilities for approximately 10+ <br /> Page 2 of 8 <br />