Pana school board approves budget

PANA — The Pana CUSD #8 school board gave approval to its 2022-23 fiscal budget during its regular meeting on Monday, June 20.

A budget hearing, which was a public hearing, was held prior to the regular board meeting. No members of the public were in attendance and no questions were asked.

Pana Superintendent Jason Bauer said the overall budget will finish in the black with a potential surplus of $2.6 million. The working cash balance for the district is projected to end at just over $2.3 million. However, Bauer said that he wants to be cautious with the current turn in the economy.

“We are in a great spot for the district to be in moving forward,” Bauer said.

A presentation was then heard from BLDD Architects, the district’s consulting firm for the new elementary school. A representative showed that the project is ready for bids. Permission for bids was granted and will go out on July 7. The deadline for bid submissions is July 28.

Projected costs for the project are now $24,686,184. This includes a built-in contingency with $835,782 in additional backup funds.

Also receiving approval were textbook rental, lunch, and event fees for the 2022-23 academic year. There were no increases in fees for students within the district. Adult lunches will be increasing by 25 cents, while Lake Land College online courses will be increasing by $25.

Nicole Blodgett will be the new district treasurer effective July 1. She replaces Heather Phillips, who moved out of the district area.

The board has given approval for an insurance renewal with EMC, Liberty Mutual, and Guaranteed Trust. The cost comes to a total of $138,550, down $2,576 since changing companies.

Closed executive business in Pana board meeting

The following business items would gain approval after a closed executive session:

• Resignations of Kayla Berner, Jacob Epley, Jan Braden, Heath Strom, Patricia Tynan, Brooke Brandis, and Mike Weideman
• Transfer of Jack Epley from volunteer track coach to head coach at the high school
• Bauer to become the 8th-grade girls’ basketball coach
• Amanda Skinner to head the cross-country team
• Derek Bourke as volunteer boys’ basketball coach

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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