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CASSOPOLIS — The Cassopolis School Board discussed budgets and student trips at their regular meeting on Monday.

The school board approved two group trips during the meeting. The varsity golf team, consisting of five athletes, were approved to attend multiple overnight events next month. The trips allow the team to accept invitations to participate in tournaments throughout the state, which have come due to the team’s success, including winning their conference, for the past four years.

The other approval was for the Region Leadership Camp for the Cassopolis Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter. The camp is an opportunity for eight FFA members to learn the duties of officers.

“I couldn’t be more proud of those kids,” said Board President Deborah Deubner of the FFA.

Ray Govert of Timberwolf Consulting Group highlighted a tech program that teaches students about technology through repairing laptops and installing cameras, among other duties. The program has been expanded into a work-based program, earning the students high school credits while allowing them to learn technology skills and earn a wage for their work. Govert praised the students and thanked the board for allowing the school to participate.

“They show up every time I ask,” said Govert of the students in the program.

Superintendent Dr. John Ritzler reported that the teachers union and administration had finalized a calendar for the next school year. The new calendar mostly mirrors the current calendar, with a small change to the first semester, shortening it to allow for exams to conclude prior to the holiday break. The new calendar is available on the school website.

Business Manager James English reminded those present of the upcoming no millage increase bond election on May 6th. The bond was crafted after months of community feedback. A proposal video for the bond is available to the public on the school website at cassopolis.k12.mi.us.

“What we wanted is the community to be involved,” said English.” And that’s what we’ve asked throughout this whole process.”

He noted that bonds from 2015 would be paid off in May, which is one of the reasons the new bond was possible without a millage increase. He also reported that the district cash flow loan had been paid off in March as a part of his goal to continue paying down debt quickly.

“We want to make sure everyone understands that we’re going to be as fiscally responsible as we can be,“ he said.

A district budget hearing will be held on June 16th at 5pm in the Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School Media Center, prior to that month’s regular board meeting. The budget will be adopted that evening at the meeting.

English noted that much of the school budget from the state level remained undecided, but that that district was moving forward to pass their budget as required by July 1.

The next regular board of education meeting is scheduled for at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 19th in the Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School Media Center.