Montrose School Board readies for upcoming budget process

The Montrose Area School Board began planning for the upcoming budget season with discussion at the Monday, Nov. 9, meeting centering around facility improvement projects and potential ways the district could pay for the work.

The board committed $50,000 of the $201,520 the district received in natural gas royalty payments to their capital projects fund. The remaining royalty revenue will remain in the district’s general fund.

The board did fast-track the replacement of the outdated, heating boiler at Lathrop Street Elementary. Board member John Wood warned that a failure of the boiler could close the elementary school. “It’s something we need to get taken care of right away.”

Superintendent Chris McComb said, “I think everybody agrees it is a priority that needs to be addressed.”

The district will seek out three formal quotes and then move ahead with the project.

The board also discussed potential roofing needs at the various school buildings. Facilities administrator Tom Lonzinski said several roofs need to have work done. Tremco Roofing is reviewing and inspecting the current conditions of the roofs and will be submitting recommendations once all the inspections are complete.

The board also revisited talk about resurfacing the track – a project that, depending on the extent of work needed, could cost about $700,000. The cost would be lower if the subsurface is in good condition.

The board approved a donation of $1,207 to the Susquehanna County Library, with board member Gretchen Backer sounding the only vote against the donation.

Backer said the district had donated land to the library and claimed the organization had not worked with the district regarding parking during events.

McComb explained the donation equaled $1 per enrolled student and that he believed the other school districts in the area also contributed to the library.

In other business, the board approved the following agenda items:

  • Adoption of text books to be used for instruction for the following upper level courses: AP Euro, AP Biology, AP Chemistry and Honors Earth Science;
  • Entering an agreement with Friendship House for provision of Mental Health Counseling and Consulting Services for five days per week, utilizing Title IV funds;
  • Personnel hired and/or transferred;
  • Tenure was granted to Andrea Aukema, 5th grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary.

 

The board also voted to amend the school calendar, changing the dates of parent-teacher conferences to Thursday, Nov. 19 in the evening and Friday, Nov. 20, with no classes for students that day. The conferences will be held virtually or by telephone.

Parents can sign up for conferences by following a link provided on the home page of the district website.

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