Ken McLemore

HOPE – Meeting in called session Monday at noon, the Hope Public Schools Board of Education adopted a budget transfer to conform to annual state legal balance requirements and discussed the back-to-school impact of COVID-19.

HPS Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley said the district is legally required to maintain no more than a 20 percent carryover of general revenues across a given budget year, and Dr. Crossley recommended the board transfer some $720,000 into the district building fund to meet the requirement.

He said the excess reserve was essentially created by federal COVID-19 relief funding under the ESSER Act. With a “legal balance” of some $4.52 million, the district was required to move more than $717,000 out of general and operational budget categories to hit a $3.8 million limit.

“It is required that you have to have a board meeting to do this,” Crossley said.

He said the HPS currently has 11 active COVID-19 cases within its geographic boundaries with some 130 persons under 14-day quarantine.

“There will be some points of discussion that will come before the board this next month,” Crossley said in response to questions about protocols for the district.

He said the HPS continues to operate under the maximum 14-day quarantine protocol as the “safest” option. Crossley said a district COVID-19 vaccine incentive of $200 for employees has been well-received.

In other actions, the board adopted a federal equity statement of assurances required for annual submission to the U.S. Department of Education.