Malden School Board

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MALDEN — The Malden School Board took action on the following items at its meeting Feb. 18:

• Reviewed the district’s past and projected finances based on possible cuts at the state level to the foundation level for general state aid and lack of payments for categorical grants. The state is currently $54,654 behind in payment to the district.

Superintendent Deb Dalton said it is rumored the state will cut the foundation level by $500 to $600 per student next year, and this year’s categorical grant dollars won’t be paid until next year. Both categorical dollars and early childhood grant funds might be cut by as much as 50 percent next year.

Dalton said the district could lose at least $60,000 next year, and state payments would be less than what was received four years ago. Dalton said she expected no decrease in expenses unless the district makes cuts.

• Received a report on the kindergarten through fourth-grade curriculum committee’s choice of Macmillan/McGraw-Hill language arts series to update reading, spelling and writing curriculum for next year.

The series is more expensive than originally budgeted, but it supplies a complete scaffolded language arts curriculum for the five grades, integrating spelling and writing with reading.

• Received a report on the school’s Response to Intervention plan.

• Heard a update on the KIVA project.

• Heard a new server was purchased.

• Thanked Brenda Dye and Ronda Hollars for coaching the girls’ basketball team.

• Commended the junior high students who earned honor roll and high honor roll grades.

• Commended the junior high students who earned citizenship recognition.

• Commended all students who achieved perfect attendance for the second nine weeks.

• Approved the 2010 Financial Profile Designation of Recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education.

• Set a public hearing for the Life Safety and Working Cash Bonds for 7 p.m. March 18.

• Accepted the resignation of Linda Smith as Life Skills one-on-one aide.

• Approved hiring Heather Robbins as Life Skills full-time one-on-one aide; and Teresa Zearing as Stepping Stones Preschool part-time one-on-one aide.