Brimfield OKs tentative amended budget

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Weekly Post

BRIMFIELD – Brimfield’s Board of Education held its monthly meeting on May 12 in order to approve a tentative amended budget and have it on display for 30 days before final approval on June 16th. The public hearing date is the same as the final approval date.
The board approved $18,085 from ESSER II funding to purchase replacement tables for the grade school cafeteria.
In his report, School Superintendent Tony Shinall said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding the free lunch for all K-12 students through the 2021-22 school year.
Shinall said the school district “is procuring a grant opportunity to obtain five new welding stations. These new stations would allow training on all three common types of welding: Arc, MIG and TIG.”
The grant calls for community members to be able to train, as well.
Brimfield’s graduation was moved to May 16. Prior to graduation, the board approved the grade school and high school graduates.
Approved were bread and milk bids from Aunt Millie’s Bakeries and Prairie Farms. Prices for bread products were all under $2, while milk will cost 54 cents for a half-pint.
Vacation days were approved for Shinall (June 7-11) and for High School principal Billy Robison (June 23-29), which is the summer school break.
Robison, in his report, said that this month’s Team Elite staff member for May is Cathy Krostal. She worked to ensure that a prom could take place. Robison thanked Krostal, who is retiring next year in the science field. Also, Kelsey Messineo was thanked for her work relating to testing, class scheduling, graduation and academic awards. She was April’s employee of the month.
Grade School principal Julie Albritton reported a total enrollment of 428 students and said that there are zero COVID-positive students and none in quarantine, at the time of the meeting.
Albritton reported that summer school has 56 students enrolled for the Monday through Thursday sessions from June 7 to July 2.
In other action the board approved:
• An intergovernmental agreement with the Peoria Educational Region for Employment and Career Training (PERFECT). The purpose is to make available relevant career and technical education programs for students.
• Membership in the Illinois High School Association for the upcoming school year.
• Board meeting dates for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
• A contract for Jamie Henson as technology coordinator, Kevin Faulkner as tech assistant and employment of summer maintenance workers.