The new administration building for the Montrose Area School District is nearly completed, and the occupants have already moved into their offices. Some exterior and grounds work remains to be done, and will be finished when the spring thaw is completed.
BY PAT FARNELLI
Montrose Area School District will not need to make any cuts in programs, and will rely on retirements and other attrition to stay within its proposed budget for next year.
That was the word of Superintendent Michael Ognosky at the school board meeting Monday night.
There were eleven resignations from professional staff members by the deadline of Mar. 15, and Ognosky said, “Our plan is to replace no one, including the assistant principal at the high school.”
In addition, the board recommended dismissing Alison Nichols as payroll clerk, effective immediately.
A custodial staff member and lunchroom/playground supervisor at the Lathrop Street School also resigned.
No program cuts are anticipated “so far,” according to Ognosky. He said keeping full day kindergarten is a priority, as well as keeping class size below 20, in the 15-18 pupil range, in the lower elementary grades.
One program, Family and Consumer Science, will have teachers cut back from two to one, and a class period, and thus an elective, will be eliminated from the high school day.
“We are adjusting pretty well,” Ognosky said. “For next year, we might go this way or that by $100,000, but that isn’t a lot when you are discussing a $25 million budget.” He said he hopes the PA legislature will “move a little,” but that the district has adjusted anyway. “If they do, we can put some things back in (next year’s budget).”
The new administration building is very close to completion, and the final inspection for the interior will occur sometime this week.
At the start of the meeting, members of the PA Association of School Retirees presented a check for $150 to Charlotte Sherman for her anti-bullying program. The character education program that received the grant is called “Be the Change.”
Next year’s kindergarten enrollment now stands at 41 registered at Choconut Valley Elementary, and 45 at Lathrop Street Elementary.
Next year, there will be three classes of kindergarten at Choconut, Ognosky said.
The elementary schools will have their open houses on May 18 for Lathrop Street and on May 19 for Choconut.
High School Principal Jim Tallerico reported that this year, the Prom will be held at The Summit, by popular demand, but on a Friday night, May 6, which is a break from tradition.
Mrs. Heather Winn is directing Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, to be staged on April 21-22 at 7 p.m.
Montrose students will be competing on May 13-14 at the National Archery Competition in Louisville, KY.
Daniel Lukasavage was approved for a one season unpaid leave of absence as Head Soccer Coach for the fall of 2011, with the intent he return to this position beginning with the fall 2012 sports season.
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