Susquehanna Community board approves proposed budget

BY HELEN B. FOSTER, Correspondent

Susquehanna Community school district’s board approved a proposed budget of $12.8million for 2011-2012.

The action taken at the May 11 meeting also set the district millage at 43.30 in Susquehanna County and 14.29 in Wayne County. This proposed budget is $1 million less than last year and has a slight increase in millage but all taxpayers approved as either homestead or farmstead will see a decrease in their school reality tax.

This decrease for the 1,300 property owners approved for homesteads/farmsteads is a result of  $398,290 in gambling funds received by the district. District tax bills for property owners approved for the homestead/farmstead status will be credited with an approximate $302 rebate.

Superintendent Bonson Stone said health care for the district employees has gone up 13 percent making it necessary to raise the millage. As in previous years there will be some property owners in the district not paying any school property tax due to the gambling funds.

Stone spoke to the board concerning actions taken by the state governing body and how it could impact the district. If the present House of Representatives proposal passes the district would get additional state funds but that proposal has to be approved by both chambers, House and Senate.

With the decrease in state funds, Stone said,”the impact on the home will be greater.” Stone also spoke of state mandates, some good and some bad that will have a negative impact on the district.

Common sense is what is needed when considering these mandates, Stone added.

On May 12, there was a building to building evacuation drill with a campus evacuation drill scheduled for May 17.

Stone praised Barnes Kasson Hospital, Turnpike Terrace, Susquehanna Fire Department and others for their assistance in this yearly drill.

Principal Robert Keyes told the board he was pleased to announce that sixth grade student Evan Cantone has been awarded the “Elementary Principal Scholar/Citizenship Award.” Each school in the district selects a student to be a candidate and that candidate competes against candidates from the other county schools for the honor. The student selected also receives a special gift from their principal.

Kathleen Hinkley, teacher’s association representative to the board, informed the board the annual car show will be held with the proceeds going to the scholarship fund. This year there will be four scholarships awarded, one more than in previous years.

Director Martha Stanford was elected board treasurer, a position she presently holds, for the 2011/2012 school year. Peoples Neighborhood Bank was approved as a depository for the district funds and Attorney Joseph Gaughn was appointed district solicitor.

With board approval, Japanese has been added to the program of studies for the coming school year.

Personnel hired included summer school teachers: Debra Stone; Rebecca Stalker, Ray Testa and Rachel Arrieta. RtII coordinator Julie Gallo. Coaching positions filled were as follows: girls’ varsity basketball, Brian Niblock; girls’ elementary basketball, Jami Hyndshaw; elementary wrestling co-coaches, Jason Fissel and Dennis Gow; substitute game manager, Roxann Lloyd; track scorer, Tiffanie Wolfe; track announcer, Roxann Lloyd. Tiffanie Wolfe was approved as a volunteer for football cheerleading.

The board approved a long list of facility use for schoolroom use, various sports areas during the summer and also to organizations, including churches and scouting.

Stone said, “we are a community school and are pleased to open our facility to others.”