Susquehanna prepares for budget while awaiting funding

BY STACI WILSON

Susquehanna Community School District is still waiting on funding from the state. Superintendent Bronson Stone said that although the district has not been given an exact figure, the funding won’t be less than it was for the prior year.

Meanwhile, the district is in the process of preparing its 2016-17 budget. Stone said the budget would remain the same as the present year’s when the district “finds out what that actually is.”

Stone also added, “No one expects a (state) budget on day 1.”

The state budget is required to be in place by July 1 but legislators and the governor failed to come to an agreement over the 2015-16 state budget.

At the Wednesday, April 20 meeting, the board approved raises for the final two years of the management team agreement and the non-instructional agreement: benefited employees will receive a three percent raise in 2016-17 and 2017-18; and non-benefited employees will receive four percent increases.

A campus security and safety agreement between the district and the Lanesboro Police Dept. was approved for the 2016-17 school year.

May 3 will be teacher recognition day in the district and a light breakfast will be served that day.

The board approved a Naloxone policy. The medication would be used by trained staff to counteract a heroin or opioid overdose. The district would receive two doses of the nasal spray.

Maintenance supervisor Kevin Price said the district had received six bids for the elementary roofing project. He said the lowest bidder offered a 20-year warranty and no loss of insulation value.

Price also said the baseball and softball fields each needed a load of infield mix to bring them up to where they need to be for play.

Recognitions for district retirees are being planned by the teachers’ association.