BASD Waiting for State Budget
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
The 41-day-late state budget was one of the topics during Monday's Bradford Area School Board meeting.
"It's been very difficult planning for the start of school while we're unsure of the actual allocations we'll be receiving," said School District Superintendent Sandra Romanowksi. "But we're hoping they will be working diligently to pass a budget which will be considerate of both the local taxpayers and our most important resource, which is our children."
Following the meeting, Business Manager Kathy Kelly told WESB and The HERO she'll be re-evaluating the school district budget at the end of this month if a state budget isn't passed by then.
She said the state has already missed the 15 percent special education subsidy payment that was due to the school district at the end of July. A basic education subsidy payment is due at the end of August.
Director of Technology John Petruzzi also pointed out that grant money is tied up in the state budget and can't be released until the budget is passed.
Kelly said the last thing she wants to see is a tax increase, noting that she's worked very hard to make sure there hasn't been a tax increase in eight years. Her three-year projected plan also does not include a tax increase.
As for the state budget, the conference committee formed to hammer out a budget deal is expected to reconvene sometime this week. The Democrats and Republicans are still about $1 billion apart on a "spend number" – the amount they believe the state can afford to spend.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have said a personal income tax increase is "off the table." Governor Ed Rendell, however, has said the income tax increase is the fairest way to raise revenue.
In other matters at Monday's school board meeting, Romanowski said in order to fine tune the school bus routes that were changed last year, school start and dimissal times are changing "just a bit."
School Street and George G. Blaisdell school will start at 9:05 a.m. and dismiss at 3:45. Fretz Middle School will start at 7:50 a.m. and dismiss at 2:30 p.m. Bradford Area High School will start at 8:05 a.m. and dismiss at 2:45 p.m.
On a bus-related note, Sam Johnson, Director of Human Resources, said AFSME, the union that represents the bus drivers, will be starting "Operation Good Start."
Bus drivers will be volunteering their time, and gas money, to take a bus to Walmart and collect school supplies. People can buy school supplies, then drop them off on the bus and the supplies will be distributed to children who need them.
Johnson said more information on "Operation Good Start" will be released soon.
On another bus driver-related note, the board accepted the resignation of Linda Magee who had been a bus driver in the district for 29 years.
Also Monday, the board entered into agreements with Beacon Light for alternative education services.
The board also granted consent to the county tax claim bureau to sell eight parcels of land from the county repository.
The board also got an update from Maintenance Supervisor Gene Woodmansee on the district's capital projects.
He said all the projects should be finished by the time school starts on August 25. The projects include installation of a new elevator and air conditioning at the high school; renovation of the gym at School Street; renovation of some restrooms at Fretz; and façade improvement at GGB.
Also Monday, the board approved the textbook, "Through the Eyes of a Child" for the new children's literature elective at the high school.
During next month's meeting, school administrators will be presenting PSSA scores.
WESB/WBRR News Director
The 41-day-late state budget was one of the topics during Monday's Bradford Area School Board meeting.
"It's been very difficult planning for the start of school while we're unsure of the actual allocations we'll be receiving," said School District Superintendent Sandra Romanowksi. "But we're hoping they will be working diligently to pass a budget which will be considerate of both the local taxpayers and our most important resource, which is our children."
Following the meeting, Business Manager Kathy Kelly told WESB and The HERO she'll be re-evaluating the school district budget at the end of this month if a state budget isn't passed by then.
She said the state has already missed the 15 percent special education subsidy payment that was due to the school district at the end of July. A basic education subsidy payment is due at the end of August.
Director of Technology John Petruzzi also pointed out that grant money is tied up in the state budget and can't be released until the budget is passed.
Kelly said the last thing she wants to see is a tax increase, noting that she's worked very hard to make sure there hasn't been a tax increase in eight years. Her three-year projected plan also does not include a tax increase.
As for the state budget, the conference committee formed to hammer out a budget deal is expected to reconvene sometime this week. The Democrats and Republicans are still about $1 billion apart on a "spend number" – the amount they believe the state can afford to spend.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have said a personal income tax increase is "off the table." Governor Ed Rendell, however, has said the income tax increase is the fairest way to raise revenue.
In other matters at Monday's school board meeting, Romanowski said in order to fine tune the school bus routes that were changed last year, school start and dimissal times are changing "just a bit."
School Street and George G. Blaisdell school will start at 9:05 a.m. and dismiss at 3:45. Fretz Middle School will start at 7:50 a.m. and dismiss at 2:30 p.m. Bradford Area High School will start at 8:05 a.m. and dismiss at 2:45 p.m.
On a bus-related note, Sam Johnson, Director of Human Resources, said AFSME, the union that represents the bus drivers, will be starting "Operation Good Start."
Bus drivers will be volunteering their time, and gas money, to take a bus to Walmart and collect school supplies. People can buy school supplies, then drop them off on the bus and the supplies will be distributed to children who need them.
Johnson said more information on "Operation Good Start" will be released soon.
On another bus driver-related note, the board accepted the resignation of Linda Magee who had been a bus driver in the district for 29 years.
Also Monday, the board entered into agreements with Beacon Light for alternative education services.
The board also granted consent to the county tax claim bureau to sell eight parcels of land from the county repository.
The board also got an update from Maintenance Supervisor Gene Woodmansee on the district's capital projects.
He said all the projects should be finished by the time school starts on August 25. The projects include installation of a new elevator and air conditioning at the high school; renovation of the gym at School Street; renovation of some restrooms at Fretz; and façade improvement at GGB.
Also Monday, the board approved the textbook, "Through the Eyes of a Child" for the new children's literature elective at the high school.
During next month's meeting, school administrators will be presenting PSSA scores.
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