Tim Buss gave the District 348 Board of Education some interesting and potentially concerning news Monday at the board's regular monthly meeting.

Buss, Superintendent of District 348, told the board that while he attended the Illinois Association of School Boards convention he listened to six different state legislators explain why the Chicago area schools should be given more money in state aid. He also said a new school funding bill proposed a three- to five-percent income tax increase on individuals.

Buss also said the Finance and Audit Committee had discussed the possibility of issuing bonds. He added the Equalized Assessed Valuation could decrease by between one- to seven-percent.

Enrollment in District 348, Buss reported, was at 1,741 students, down 55 students from the start of the year. He added that the district ended the 2003-2004 school year with 1,731 students.

The superintendent said utility bills for Mt. Carmel Middle School would be reevaluated in June, and that an independent report on the MCHS roof was due soon. He said work on the roof would start in June.

Mt. Carmel High School Principal Clyde Leonard said the 8th-grade Parents Orientation Program drew a large crowd. He added that many activities were conducted during the week of May 2-6, Teacher Appreciation Week.

Honors Night is scheduled for May 26 at 7 p.m., and Graduation on May 27 at 8 p.m. at MCHS.

MCMS Principal Darlene Weir said students in the Your Choice Program held their graduation on April 25 with several being recognized. The leaders, Cathy Kensell and Allen Wright, were honored.

She added that the Student Council held a dance and lock-in on April 29 as a fund-raiser; the money, $500, was donated to the Wabash County Historical Society to be used for the Soldiers Monument renovation. Another $500 was donated to the school for the event sign.

The 6th-grade orientation was held, Weir added, to help make the transition to the middle school easier for those students.

Dee Fry and Matt Lies held a Golf Clinic, and example of what Weir said was "Above and Beyond" contributions.

Weir also noted meeting in an effort to reduce the MCMS utility bills.

Mike Hayes, principal at North Intermediate Center of Education, reported that the school's 4th-grade students traveled to New Harmony, Ind., to observe how that society lived. He also noted that after the Accelerated Reading Pie-in-the-Face contest he received 25 pies in his face at an all-school assembly. He said this year's students amassed 26,313 points, over 4,000 more than last year's students.

In another fundraiser, Hayes said NICE Students raised over $2,000 for St. Jude's Hospital in a Math-A-Thon. And the Penny Drive collected over $1,900 for Relay for Life.

Fifth-grade students also displayed their inventions, Hayes said, in the school's gym.

Janice Alka, principal at South Elementary, noted that the Kindergarten class has the biggest enrollment of the 355 students attending the school. Kindergarten has 119 students, nosing out Second Grade, which has 116. Kindergarten students also took a trip to Tri-State Aero to complete their study of flight.

The PTO Walk-A-Thon raised over $8,500 with 103 students raising at least $40. Thirty-six students raised $100 and seven students raised $200, and enjoyed lunch with the principal.

The top fund-raising student in each grade received a fire truck ride.

Cathy Witsman, Director of Outreach, showed the board a Web page designed by MCHS business students. The Web page showed the various after-school activities in which District 348 students are involved. She said the activities are funded through a grant from the Welborn Foundation.

Warren Fleetwood, 8th-grade English teacher, described the MCMS Advisory activities, noting he had polled the students to find out what goes on. He said the 6th-graders worked in a life skills unit while the 7th-graders had a food-drive based curriculum activity, and 8th-graders worked on community service projects.

Fleetwood said the program has many strengths but ways are being sought to improve it. He also noted the Career Fair had 40 participants.

The board approved off-season clinics and camps, the board goals for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years, and the South School Handbook.