For the first time in five years, Centralia High School's finances are in the black. Superintendent Chuck Lane reported to the Centralia High School Board that this year's budget ended $150,000 in the positive. Lane said one of the reasons why the school had been so far behind is because it costs more to operate the new Centralia High School. He says it’s taken a few years to make adjustments to run the building as efficiently as possible. Lane says the school isn't financially secure just yet, but he says it’s good to be getting there. In addition to the money still in the school's budget, Centralia High is owed $137,000 from the state. Lane said he didn't know if that was good or bad news, but did point out that if the state had paid their bills on time, CHS would be nearly $300,000 in the black.
October 30th has been set as the date for the annual Alumni Association banquet. The names of the alumni being honored at this year's event will be announced next month. Principal Reid Shipley told the board that the alumni association is in the process of selecting those individuals and seeing which ones will be able to make it back to Centralia for the banquet.
Four teachers were hired for the coming school year. They are English teachers Elizabeth Jack and Jennifer Jolliff, Special Education Teacher Jaime Rawlinson, and chorus teacher Katrina Cox. The resignation of Josh Fark was accepted as assistant boys’ soccer coach.
The board increased the salary of Superintendent Chuck Lane by six percent to $120,840 and added one year onto his contract. Principal Reid Shipley received a 6.6% increase in pay, Assistant Principal Julie Boltz a 6% increase, and Brad Tuttle a 7.1%. The board approved the salaries for support staff. The new salaries include a 4.5% increase in pay.
