HANOVERTON — United Local School District Treasurer Melissa Baker explained the ins and outs of the district’s Classroom Facilities Maintenance Fund during a 90-minute Thursday morning meeting.

In Ohio school districts, she explained that Fund 010, the Classroom Facilities Maintenance Fund, is required for districts that have participated in an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) building project like United Local had.

After completion of the OFCC project, the district must set aside a required amount of money each year in Fund 010, which is used to maintain and preserve the facility work done as part of the project, Baker added.

Fund 010 use is restricted to major repairs to building systems like the roof, HVAC, plumbing or electrical; preventative maintenance; replacement of building components and ongoing upkeep of the OFCC facilities.

This money cannot be used for general operating expenses like salaries, instructional supplies or other everyday district costs.

Within Fund 010, United has established two cost centers, one which contains the state share of the building project and a second that contains the local share, so they can be tracked concisely.

Speaking of building projects, district Superintendent Lance Hostetler updated members that bids for the animal lab project came in significantly over the projected budget, thus the district will need to reexamine the scope of the project and determine possible adjustments before moving forward.

Administrators also provided brief updates regarding their buildings or departments.

High School Principal Sarah Hamilton-Phillips revealed that United’s Academic Challenge team finished first in the Mahoning League.

District special education director Mary Alice Sigler reported on enrollment numbers for Tobin Center, which falls under the United Local umbrella. Currently 13 students are enrolled with four coming from Columbiana County and nine coming from Stark County.

She also revealed that her department recently completed a Medicaid audit and easily maintained compliance.

Currently 142 students in the district are identified as having special education needs, she added.

Middle School Principal Frank Baker provided an update on the upcoming eighth-grade carnival, which has an abundance of sponsors to assist with the grade’s Washington D.C. trip.

The next scheduled board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 in the media center.

In other action, the board approved an out-of-state trip for two Student Initiative Club members to present at this month’s Student Power Summit in Los Angeles. The trip expenses have been covered by donations and fundraisers.