The Hennessey Board of Education met Monday evening, September 14, covering district finances, new policies, changes to the school calendar and personnel.
One of the larger topics was the district’s financial picture. During discussion of the consent agenda, Superintendent Jason Sternberger reported a major revenue source came in at about $146,000, approximately $25,000 below the same point last year. He said the district will continue watching the revenue closely.
The board also approved the district’s Estimate of Needs for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The district is appropriated at approximately $12.7 million, compared with $14.1 million last year. Sternberger said the current general fund budget is running around $9.7 million, potentially leaving approximately $3 million in carryover, depending on revenue.
Another number being watched is the district’s net assessed valuation. It dropped from approximately $78 million last year to $75.5 million this year. Two years ago, the valuation was approximately $87 million.
BOND COULD BE PAID OFF FIVE YEARS EARLY
The board approved Stephen L. Smith as the district’s financial consultant for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
During that discussion, Sternberger reported some good news concerning the district’s existing Eagle Event Center bond issue. The final sale of bonds is scheduled for July 2027, with the issue expected to be paid off in 2029. When originally proposed, the bond was scheduled to run through 2034, meaning it is on track to be paid off approximately five years early.
BOARD APPROVES AI POLICY
The board approved updated wellness and textbook selection policies along with a new artificial intelligence policy.
The AI policy establishes guidelines for how students and teachers can use artificial intelligence in the classroom. Parents will have the option to opt their children out of AI-related learning materials.
Board President Dr. James Matousek asked what happens when a student misuses AI to complete schoolwork. Sternberger explained that misuse would generally fall under existing rules covering cheating. A suggestion was made to eventually add language to the AI policy specifically referring students and parents to the cheating provisions in the student handbook.
SNOW DAYS ARE BACK
Changes were also approved to the 2026-27 school calendar because of new state requirements involving recess.
The district previously had approximately six or seven days of extra instructional time built into its calendar. Because additional recess time now affects the calculation of instructional hours, Sternberger said the district essentially has only one extra day available this year.
If additional days are missed, the district will begin using designated makeup days. Sternberger said four days have been identified on the calendar and will be used in order as needed. If the district misses more than five days, the board may have to consider adding additional school days or minutes to the school day.
District employees were surveyed about the change, with approximately 66% favoring the makeup-day approach. Sternberger said the district may consider returning to a traditional days-based calendar next school year rather than calculating the school year primarily by instructional hours.
FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL
No major new construction projects are currently planned. Sternberger said the district is concentrating on repairs and maintenance. Work associated with the Ideal Impact project has identified some older HVAC units that will likely need to be replaced rather than continuing to spend money repairing them. The replacements would be paid from the building fund.
The board also approved hiring Stephanie Lovanos and Fatima Gonzalez as paraprofessionals for the remainder of the 2026-27 school year.
Several extra-duty assignments were approved. Evelyn Rodriguez was named ELL site coordinator, Matthew Fuksa was approved as assistant wrestling coach, and Doug Boyd was named assistant junior high boys basketball coach. Fuksa was removed from his assistant junior high/high school boys’ basketball assignment.
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