Mountain View approves preliminary budget

BY PAT FARNELLI
Correspondent

The Mountain View School Board approved a 2016-17 preliminary budget of over $22 million Monday night.

Superintendent Karen Voigt said that the board members have copies of the preliminary budget and noted that at the last meeting, the board voted in favor of an option to raise taxes above the index but below the amount which would require a voter referendum.

Former district superintendent and school director Dr. Andrew Chichura of Lenox Twp., said, “I would like to voice my opposition to the motion to go above the index. I have worked on budgets for this district since 1984, and we have refrained from going above the index since 2006.”

Chichura noted that the school’s state Department of Education index is 2.9 percent this year, up from 2.1 percent last year, so there is
already a potential tax increase build into the index.

He added that as he reviewed annual financial reports, there seemed to be $500,000 of expenditures above income for this school year.

Chichura advocated for the board to critically look at the budget this year and bear down on expenditures. He also suggested that the current bond issue, which will be paid off in 2020, should be reviewed. “The bond companies could be called to see if it could be refinanced in 2017, which may be able to save $100,000 per year for the last four years of the bond issue payments,” he said.

Mountain View School Board members were thanked by the elementary students Monday night with chocolate covered apples and handwritten, illustrated notes in observance of School Board Recognition Month.

Voigt thanked the board for their work and visibility at the schools, where she said many of them have become recognizable to the students by being present during the school day.

Tracy Bazil was hired for a supplemental position as science fair coordinator. Band director, Mason Stiver, introduced himself and thanked Voigt for finding a grant to pay for a new marimba for the band. He is taking students to district band and district jazz band soon, and is planning a percussion group.

The submission of a comprehensive plan to PDE for 2016-19 was approved by the board.

Maintenance director Robert Taylor reported on the protective film for the large glass windows on the exterior of the lobbies and walkways. He said that a grant was applied for that will pay for half of the cost for the film, which is a security measure, so that intruders will have less visibility of students from the outside of the buildings.

Taylor also noted that persons have been tampering with the school sign and changing the messages on it. “Someone has gotten to the point where they are bringing their own letters, so either they are getting into other signs in the area, or they are pilfering them from us one by one,” he said.

He suggested the district purchase an LED sign.

Mountain View School Board will next meet on Monday, Feb. 8, in the boardroom located in the administration offices in the elementary building.