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Members approved adding three full day sections at an approximate $40-$50,000 additional cost to the district out of the 2007-08 budget after the $15-$20,000 savings in transportation costs the district will experience by eliminating mid-day bus runs.

The district will also spend an additional approximate $10,000 to set up the classroom.

"We need to move forward and put this program in. It will be academically beneficial to our students," stated school Superintendent Mike Wallace.

The student to adult ratio will be twelve to one. Each teacher will have approximately 25 students along with a full-time Para-pro.

The board also approved contracts for all administrative and at-will employees with all receiving salary increases from one to three percent depending on what service plateau had been reached. These included the superintendent, high school, middle school, and elementary principals, Maintenance and Transportation Director Jim Golden, Career and Community Services Director Sue Bruno, Director of Finance Charlotte Taylor, Finance Assistant Pam Maike, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Denise Smith, along with the Food Services Director and Bus Mechanic.

All contracts also included a one-year extension.

Superintendent Mike Wallace received a 2.4% salary increase plus a $600 stipend bringing his total package to $102,801 for the 07-08 school year.

The added year extends his contract to three years to expire June 30, 2010.

Wallace recently was a top three finalist for the superintendent position with Berkley Public Schools in Oakland County.

After a series of interviews, which included a 13-hour all day interview, Wallace opted to stay in St. Charles despite an over $200,000 total package being offered by the Berkley Board of Education.

Regarding the St. Charles District's financial status, Wallace noted, "I feel fortunate that financially we've been very frugal and our budget has stayed in the black budget for the past few years allowing us to add programs and staff while most districts are cutting them."

"A year ago we budgeted for a pro-ration anticipating shortfalls caused by state funding. That left us with approximately $150,000 additional dollars when the state decided not to pro-rate schools this year."

Preliminary final budget figures show a total of $271,000 in revenues over expenditures for the 2006-07 school year. The district anticipates raising its fund equity this year from $1.33 million to $1.66 million.

The board's next meeting will be the annual organizational meeting to be held on July 18 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom at Central Administration

The agenda will include the election of officers, setting of the meeting calendar for the 2007-08 school year, and the final report on bond expenditures. A reception to honor retiring board member Jeff Tithof will also be held.