Playground delayed

Recess will look a little different for Holyoke Elementary School students when they head back to school Aug. 18.

The board of education learned at its June 21 meeting that new playground equipment won’t be in Holyoke before the start of school as it was originally scheduled. The new arrival date is Sept. 3, and it’ll take about seven days to get everything installed.

School staff members have been brainstorming alternatives so that students can still get outside during recess time in those first few weeks of school.

June budget approved

Also at the June 21 meeting, the board approved the 2022-23 June budget and adopted an appropriations resolution that included:

General Fund  $11,438,279

Food Service Fund  $406,264

Bond Redemption Fund  $615,219

Trust and Agency Fund  $48,047

Pupil Activity Fund  $354,660

Building Fund  $211,131

Capital Reserve  $140,000

Total Appropriations  $13,213,600

Other business

In other business at the June 21 meeting, the board:

— Approved the hiring of Kimberlee Bennett as a fourth grade critical shortage teacher for the 2022-23 school year.

— Approved the resignation of Yazmin Diaz, a JR/SR high paraprofessional, effective June 14.

— Approved the purchase of a laser engraver for an amount not to exceed $27,000.

— Approved the purchase of a minibus for an amount not to exceed $80,000.

— Received an update regarding the elementary drain issue.

— Held a one-hour executive session for an informal superintendent evaluation.

— Discussed agenda items for a board retreat Wednesday, July 20.