Montrose board oks $23M budget

BY PAT FARNELLI

After weeks of trimming down proposed expenditures, the Montrose Area School District’s preliminary budget was approved at Monday’s school board meeting.

Superintendent Michael F. Ognosky said that expenditures are $150,000 less than last year’s amount, and that there still remains a difference of $205,000 of expenditures over revenue.

“There are two or three (revenue) things that we are anticipating, that by then (next board meeting) will bring that number closer to $0,” he said.

The budget will be available for review by the public for one month. At the June meeting, the budget will be more finalized, and millage will be announced.

The price of fuel oil, caused a $40,000 increase in the budget. Fuel will be purchased through the NEIU 19 consortium from Santerelli & Sons at the firm rate of $3.475 per gallon for the months of December, January and February, and after that, at a fluctuating rate per gallon, at a total estimated usage of 80,000 gallons.

Several resignations were submitted. Theresa Kaub, Crisis Counselor at the Junior Senior High School, submitted a resignation due to relocation of her family, and which was accepted with regret.

“She has done an absolutely outstanding job, and was more than a crisis counselor,” Ognosky said. “We must have someone in this position, so we will post an advertisement for a crisis counselor.”

An opening was recently posted for a Dean of Students. Ognosky asked the board if he could rip up that posting and put up a new one. His idea was that it would save the district considerable expense, and require much less training, to hire a Dean of Students from within the faculty, and instead post a job for a long term substitute to replace that faculty member for one year, and see how that works out.

Board member Chris Caterson asked, “What if the new Dean of Students, at the end of the next school year, has performed admirably? Do we then make it a permanent administrative position?”

Ognosky said that if that scenario presents itself, it would not necessarily be an administrative position.

The board accepted with regret the resignation of James Buchman as assistant football coach, effective immediately.  Buchman is currently a student teacher at Montrose, and permanent employment is taking him elsewhere, Ognosky said.

The board approved the appointment of Max Amato as head soccer coach for the 2011 fall season only, at a salary of $3,200. He is filling in for Dan Lucasavage, who is taking a one-year leave due to increased responsibilities at home. Amato has served as assistant soccer coach at Montrose for several years, and was recommended for the position by the athletic director. The position of assistant soccer coach will be posted.

Lonnie Griffiths was appointed as junior high head soccer coach at a salary of $1,750. John Zenefski was appointed as junior high assistant soccer coach at a salary of $1,600.

Michelle Lusk was appointed as school district treasurer with no additional stipend. The payroll department is being  reorganized and incorporated into the business office, a position has been eliminated, and steps are being cut out of the payroll process, with all payroll put on direct deposit.

The following support staff resignations were accepted with regret: Amy Lyden as lunchroom/playground supervisor at Lathrop Street, effective May 6; Julie Fair, learning support instructional aide at the high school, effective June 13; Lois Siegfried, part-time food service worker at Lathrop Street.

Iris Hoffman was appointed and approved by the board to serve as extended school year instructional aide at Lathrop Street from July 6 through Aug. 11.