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Harmony Schools- 5-23-09

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Harmony ISD Trustees
Bank contract awarded;
Financial condition ‘good'
By JOHN SPARKS

Meeting in regular session Monday, May 18 trustees of the Harmony Independent School District selected the bid of First National Bank of Gilmer as the district's contract depository; reviewed a positive report on the district's financial position, and heard a report of record enrollment and a 96 percent attendance rate.
The district received three responses from local area banks to the district's advertisement for a depository. One response was a no bid. The other two came from Bank Texas and from First National Bank-Gilmer. Based on the interest rates on savings and checking accounts, the administration's recommendation was the bid of First National Bank-Gilmer. Trustees agreed and approved First National Bank.
Superintendent Jed Whitaker said the district is in good financial shape at this time with a balance of slightly over $5-million. He said the district should receive record state aid next year through the Weighted Average Daily Attendance (WADA) formula because of record enrollment and an attendance rate of over 96-percent over the course of the 08-09 school year.
Whitaker reported block walls have been completed for the high school addition and insulation is being applied in preparation for the laying of the exterior brick walls. He expects the roof to be completed next week affecting a weather close-in for the project. The board approved the payment of billings totaling more than $113,000 on the project.
The maintenance department and the administration will develop a plan for improving campus roads and parking lots this summer. Some will be sealed and some will receive a new coating of asphalt. That plan will be presented to the board at the next meeting.
Whitaker advised trustees that rising enrollment will require an additional bus route for the next school year. He indicated the current fleet of busses will be adequate. He told trustees of plans to place surplus used busses in an auction.
The next regular meeting of the Harmony ISD Board of Trustees will be Monday, June 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. A special meeting can be called with 72-hours notice.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 May 2009 14:36  

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