ABOVE (L to R) Mark Denman School Teacher and AVID Coach Lori Grant, 2nd grader Mya Adams, 2nd grade teacher Heidi Crane.
A special moment early in Wednesday evening’s (April 8th) Danville District 118 Board meeting was when the board was introduced to Mark Denman School 2nd grader Mya Adams. After submitting a video with answers to questions about what the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college and career ready program means to her, Mya will now be speaking on July 22nd at the AVID Conference in Kansas City.
Mya told the 118 Board she wants to be a doctor; and explained to CIMG afterwards where that desire came from.
(First Picture) 2nd grade student Mya Adams takes questions from District 118 Board; while Director of Curriculum MaryEllen Bunton, and Mark Denman’s Lori Grant and Heidi Crane, listen to her answers.
AUDIO: That happened like when; my stepmom, she was a doctor, and she told me a lot of things about it. And, I wanted to be a doctor to see what it was like, and how like I wanted a chance to explore and be a helper (of others).
Meanwhile, the efforts continue to find a long term solution to the district’s troublesome financial situation. For the immediate future, Extracurricular Committee members Mark Bacys and Alan Rivers stated that there would be no proposal for new or expanded extracurriculars for next year at this time, until more is known. And more down the road figures could be known after the next 118 Board meeting, when superintendent John Hart hopes to propose an updated spending plan.
AUDIO: And it’s really just going to look at where we really are financially. It would be awesome if we would have our audit back by then, so we’d know exactly where we started this school year, but right now we have a pretty good idea. So, just ways that we can cut money to make sure that we’re being good stewards to the community.
Hart says an updated spending plan would mean both an amendment to THIS year’s budget, and a guide for NEXT year’s budget. Board member Christopher Easton says what’s most important to him is NOT having a deficit, at the end of the future 2026-2027 budget.
AUDIO: Budget amendments this late in the year don’t make a lot of sense to someone like me; because you’ve already spent the money, so why are we amending the budget. Budgets are plans. I’ve asked Mr. Hart to really focus his attention more on having an actual budget next year that will be correct, that won’t have a deficit.
The next District 118 Board meeting is Wednesday, April 22nd.
