October is the month for school districts across the state to review and approve their five-year financial forecasts. The Bucyrus City School District Board of Education spent a large portion of their meeting discussing the financial outlook Oct. 22.

Overall, the district projects to be operating in the positive for the next two fiscal years. However, Bucyrus City School District Treasurer Ryan Cook reiterated that board members should be cautiously optimistic about the district’s future financial condition.

“As it stands today, the district is able to meet its financial obligations without deficit spending,” Cook said. “This forecast allows us to continue investing in the education of Bucyrus students.”

The Board also heard a report from Superintendent Kevin Kimmel and Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Matthew Henderson. Their report focused on the results of last year’s PARCC and AIR student assessments.

“According to the Ohio Department of Education, the public release of the report card will be January 2016,” Kimmel said. “However, the preliminary data we’ve received gives us an indication of the areas where our students excel and the areas where our students need more intervention to help them achieve to their maximum potential.”

The Board of Education unanimously approved a lengthy list of personnel and business items, which included a $395 donation from the Bucyrus City School District employees to the Staff Scholarship Fund. The Board also accepted a donation of 91 picture frames to Bucyrus Elementary School from retired teacher and community member Bob Laipply.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous donations from our staff members and local community members,” Board of Education President Bradley Murtiff said. “These kinds of donations help us provide a truly unique and individualized education for each student in the Bucyrus City School District.”