Assistant Superintendent John Black told the Augusta School Board Monday night it needed  to republish the district budget to account for forthcoming Special Education monies from the state.
He suggested amending the district’s Special Education Fund up to $40,000 so that state monies could be transferred to that fund in accordance with statutes.
The Augusta Unified School District 402 Board of Education did so on a 6-0 vote. Board Member Carey Lee was not present.
Near the start of Monday’s Board meeting, Richard Stephens, director of the district’s Learning Center, introduced three staffers and called upon two fathers, a mother, and a student to report on what’s going on at the center on South Walnut Street.
Each said the center was more appropriate for their students who had troubles adapting to the social scene in the traditional school setting.
Board Member Bill Rinkenbaugh asked Stephens how he gets the youth “engaged” in learning. Stephens said trust relationships are built in the center's small classes and he knows “these individuals can succeed.”
Stephens also reported on the ALC Life Issues Class which has had student visiting various sites in and around Augusta to learn how things run and how products and services are done.
Among their stops this semester have been the city power plant, water treatment plant, Pro-Coaters in the industrial park, the county landfill and a road cleanup project.