Revenue, spending numbers to be presented at annual meeting
By Holly Neumann
With state aid numbers not yet available, the Manawa School Board put its 2016-17 tax levy and budget on hold until the annual meeting on Oct. 19.
“We are trying to do a much more precise budget than we have had in the past,” said District Administrator Melanie Oppor. “We will be able to give you a much more accurate budget in October.”
During the school board’s Sept. 21 meeting, Oppor gave a presentation on the history and future of the district.
“This district means a lot to the heart of people that live here,” she said.
She gave details of what has been accomplished over the past year.
“We have established a new mission, vision, guidelines and principles,” Oppor said. “It keeps us focused on what is really important: Helping young people make the most of their future and providing an excellent education along the way.”
Oppor noted the success of the long range planning that has been done, but also addressed the challenges that lie ahead.
“We are still looking for what makes us special and unique,” she said. “We are exploring such things as Wolf River Pathways and examining other options on how to make ourselves more marketable.”
One area of concern that still remains is the high number of students that are open enrolling out of the district.
Oppor believes that the school district as a whole has a bright future.
“We are planning,” she said. “We are dreaming big and getting ready for the future ahead of us.”
The next regular board meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. The annual meeting will reconvene at 8 p.m. that same night.