Susquehanna school board passes $13.7M budget

BY HELEN B. FOSTER
Correspondent

The Susquehanna Community School Board passed the final district budget of $13,709,209 for 2013-2014 at its June 19 meeting.

The vote also set the district millage at 45.78 for Susquehanna County taxpayers and 13.27 for Wayne County taxpayers.

It was also announced Susquehanna taxpayers will receive $304.07 from Homestead/Farmstead exclusion with Wayne county residents receiving $303.62. The budget passed with six directors present for this meeting. Absent were Lori Canfield, Jason Chamberlain and Holly Kuban.

Superintendent Bronson Stone informed the board the district’s Strategic Plan had been approved and two grants had been received.

Stone said a $5,000 grant from a pipeline company to fund a sixth grade math program and $2,500 from the Community Foundation for stage lighting were welcomed.

Principal Robert Keyes reported on the end of year awards program and gave the schedule for summer school. He also spoke about the summer work in progress at the elementary building.

Thirteen policies, ranging from the district’s relations with law enforcement agencies; discipline and behavior support as well as nondiscrimination issues; weapons and terroristic threats and the districts approach to the problem with controlled substances/drug abuse.

Agreements with PA Treatment & Healing and with the American Red Cross for the use of the school as a shelter if needed were approved.

Moore Wood Floor Refinishing was approved to repair the high school gym floor and to refinish both high school and elementary school gym floors. Nagle Athletic Surfaces were given the go-ahead to repair the tennis courts at a cost of $4,565.00.

Five transportation contracts were approved for summer use: Miller; Swanson (two buses); Lewis (two buses). The board also approved six substitute Summer School teachers: John Adams, Kim Marco, Jami Hyndshaw, Sarah Krause, Richard Emmons and Karyn Armitage. Gerald Hull and Earl Cottrell were approved for weekend and weeknight maintenance with Sara Dubanowitz as a substitute for the maintenance department.

Requests approved included: varsity football cheerleaders to attend summer camp at Keystone College; Sabers Pep Band to play at NEPA Miners football game on August 3 at Scranton Memorial Stadium; and Class of 2014 for senior trip to Virginia Beach prior to graduation next June.