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Crunching the numbers

Randolph School is in good financial shape

RANDOLPH — Randolph Public Schools appears to be in good financial health after the school board heard an update at its last meeting.

Randolph’s cost per student is $14,635 and the school ranks 16th in cost compared with other schools its size.

Randolph has $4.4 million in total needs for the school, according to the Department of Education formula, and the school has resources of $7.4 million.

The school will receive $32,637 in allocated tax aid, which is not to be confused with equalization aid, said Randolph Supt. Jeff Hoesing.

Additionally, the school will have $230,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to spend in a way that is federally acceptable.

When the board met last week, it also discussed potential policy changes.

Board Member Lisa Linville expressed concern over instruction mandates.

“I don’t see a point that we will be forced to teach something that the board doesn’t approve,’’ Supt. Hoesing said. “The whole country is concerned.’’

Special education evaluation, tracking and interventions were among those policies considered.

The district will screen and evaluate all children with suspected disabilities from birth through age 21 and will implement practical methods to track which children are currently receiving special education and related services.

The district will also provide student referrals that are accompanied by documentation of scientific research or evidence-based academic or behavior interventions that have been implemented to demonstrate the child is not making a sufficient rate of progress to meet age or state-approved, grade-level standards within a reasonable time frame.

Also included is language about equal available services, pre-referral interventions, written procedures for least restrictive environment, disciplinary removal of children with disabilities, and evaluation and reevaluation procedures.

Potential policy changes also would prohibit staff from displaying anything in their classroom unrelated to curriculum and may result in a disruptive learning environment.

Anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and anti-retaliation policies will be changed to include instances regarding skin color, and hair texture and style.

Other potential policy changes relate to home-schooled children, business operations and the adoption of academic content standards.

The board will vote on policy changes at the July meeting.

At its meeting, the Randolph School Board also:

• Heard about staffing changes at the elementary school: Kelsey Gubbels, third grade; Brittany Flaming, fourth grade; Jennifer Crosley, fifth and sixth grade Math and sixth-grade morning; Stephanie Harder, sixth-grade afternoon; Tiffany Guenther, Title Reading; and Paige Hegge, Special Education.

• Approved classified salaries, increasing sick days from six to eight days for some positions.

• Heard about updates to the high school including new mirrors and equipment at the weight room; new curtain for the stage; and gym floors refinished.

• Heard about the possibility of hosting a foreign exchange student in the upcoming academic year.

• Agreed to begin each meeting by reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance.”

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