NILES — School officials are looking at ways to save money in the upcoming years as the Board of Education has approved a proposed financial recovery plan as directed by the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission.

The district was placed in fiscal emergency at the end of February after five-year financial forecasts showed a $1 million deficit by 2023. It was placed in fiscal watch in June 2018 and slipped into fiscal emergency after it failed to present the state auditor a plan to restore its financial solvency.

Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen at a recent meeting said the district is looking at ways to reduce expenses and increase revenue as they work to reduce the projected deficit. Districts under fiscal emergency are required to develop a recovery plan that projects a five-year forecast of positive balances.

She said the district has received a $553,000 K-12 student wellness and success grant for fiscal year 2020 and will be getting $663,000 in 2021. Officials are looking to see which current staff members provide wellness services to the district that can be paid from these funds, which Thigpen said can only be used for student health and wellness and mental health-related items.

The board hired Holly Gibson-Blackburn as districtwide school nurse on a one-year contract to fill a retirement. She will be paid with the student wellness and success funding. The board also hired Janice Semple and Julie Coffey, both as licensed practical nurses, for eight hours per day. They also will be paid through the wellness and success funding.

Thigpen said they are expecting several staff retirements at the end of the 2019-20 school year that will result in savings for fiscal year 2021.

In other business, elementary teacher Susan Bowman, a 14-year teacher, spoke on the positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) training and professional development for staff, which is a way for schools to encourage good behavior in students.

“This is a proactive approach to deal with problem students. Students today are different than they were 10 years ago and are dealing with different issues. Some students do not know how to behave and do not always have the best attitudes,” Bowman said.

She said PBIS sets expectations for students focusing on being respectful, responsible and safe and also having a good attitude toward school and learning.

“With the program, positive behavior will be reinforced. We want to help students to be more successful in their lives,” Bowman said.

The board also:

• Hired Joanne Baron as career tech / vocational education teacher at the high school on a one-year contract to replace a retirement, resulting in $20,500 in savings;

• Approved an agreement with Nutrition Inc. at $556,682 for food services and administrative fees for cafeteria food programs;

• Approved the middle school Washington, D.C., field trip May 14-16 and middle school Camp Fitch field trip April 22-24, with no cost to the district for either trip;

• Set the next meeting for 5:30 p.m. July 16 at the administration building followed by levy committee meeting at 6:30 p.m.;

• Gave first reading on social media usage, which the state is requiring be included to protect students and staff;

• Renewed the district’s property, automobile and liability insurance with the Griffith Agency (Liberty Mutual) with a $3,542 increase from last year’s total of $76,297.