A roughly $19 million dollar budget was approved by Centralia High School’s Board of Education Tuesday night at the regular September meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Lane is pleased with the district’s budget.
“It looks like a pretty good budget. We are predicting between a $500,000 and $800,000 surplus depending on how the grants fall. There is a lot of revenue expenses in there for that depending on the spring when we buy stuff and get reimbursed it could fluctuate. But all in all a good budget for us.”
Lane also reported on a recent meeting of several rural downstate superintendent’s that also included Salem Community High School Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering and two deputy governors involved in education.
“Talking about what we can do as a state to grow rural education. Two topics we talked about mainly was funding and future shortage issue. We still need better access people can change careers or faster routes for students to become teachers. It was a really good meeting and we hope to keep that going and meet a few more times before the year is over.”
Lane also told the board that both the Annex expansion and the solar project are continuing on schedule, with the Annex expansion looking at mid-November for completion and the solar project sometime in Spring.
Principal Dr. Reid Shipley noted that this week is Homecoming Week, with the Homecoming game this Friday and the dance on Saturday. Along with other upcoming events: he said a “dual-credit” night is set for October 18 at 6 p.m. to explain the advantages of dual credit for parents and students. He added that by using dual credit a student may save great deal on tuition later, by not having to take some classes in college. He also noted that Friday, October 13th, marks the end of the first quarter.
The school board placed two students at the Alternative Learning Academy in lieu of expulsion for violating school rules. One was for gross insubordination towards administration and the other for threatening a staff member by putting a bounty on staff members head.
The board accepted irrevocable letter of intent to retire from Lee Bennett and Jeff Skillette effective at the end of the 2026-27 school year.
The board also approved Josh Nunnery and Kalynn McMillan as assistant girls’ softball coaches.
