(Raymond)--The 2012 fiscal year budget for the Panhandle School District was presented during their meeting Monday night. According to Superintendent Connie Woods, the district has a deficit of over four hundred and eighty thousand dollars. She explained that over three hundred thousand dollars of the deficity is what the state is obligated to the district. Woods said that the district is holding its own through this tough time. The Panhandle Board of Education approved the budget in a five to one vote. Board member Kathy Johnson voting no.
Consolidation Requests
A long discussion regarding the consolidation requests from Morrisonville, Nokomis, and North Mac school districts also took place. According to Board President Mike Meisner, either request would require the district to come up with funding for a new high school. Superintendent Connie Woods said that the district would have over five hundred students in the high school if Morrisonville, Nokomis, and Panhandle consolidated. The board also discussed the possibility of combined courses between the three school districts. The board plans to meet again with the Morrisonville, and Nokomis school districts on October 6th.
Regarding North Macs request for consolidation, Board member Greg Nimmo stated that their intrest is space. He said the high school in Virden, junior high school in Girard, and the grade schools are all at capacity. Nimmo said that the North Mac school district realizes that a new high school would have to be built east of Girard or Virden. The Panhandle Board of Education agreed to continue discussions with the North Mac school district.
Litchfield School District Request
The Panhandle Board of Education also received a letter of interest from the Litchfield School District. According to Superintendent Connie Woods, the Litchfield School District sent letters to five school districts regarding reorganization. The Litchfield School District will be holding a public forum early next year with the interested districts. The Panhandle Board of Education approved to attend Litchfield's forum.
