BY CALLIE CURLEY
Correspondent
The conditions of the budget, school facility, and faculty and staff dominated business and conversation at the June 15 meeting of the Montrose Area School Board. Following a brief work session, the school board convened to a crowd of faculty, staff, and community members – with a full agenda to address.
Tax rates were set at 44.8805 mills of assessed valuation on real estate, and the homestead/farmstead exclusion was set at $7,533 for a tax dollar value of $350.35.
The board accepted with regret the resignations of Laurie Andre as sixth grade teacher at Lathrop Street; Katherine Fischer as assistant boys’ soccer coach and assistant track coach; David Lopes as assistant football coach; Anthony McKennas as varsity softball coach; Suzanne Breese, lunchroom/playground supervisor at Lathrop Street; Debra O’Reilly, food service cashier at Choconut Valley; and Wendy Scott, food service utility worker at the junior/senior high school.
Employment of the following individuals was also approved for the upcoming school year:
*Chelsey Puza as a full-time School Psychologist for grades K-12.
*Michael Matis as full-time technology education teacher at junior/senior high school.
*Katherine Luvender as full-time art teacher at junior/senior high school.
*Tara Hueg as full-time gifted/ESL teacher for grades K-12.
*Jodi Hotaling as full-time special education teacher.
*Anne Gardner as full-time secretary to the Principal at junior/senior high school. (retroactive to May 18)
*Stacy Cobb as full-time secretary to the Director of Special Education.
*Kimberly Cook as temporary accounts payable clerk in administrative office from July 20 through October 30.
Four students were also approved for summer employment within the district: Konstantinos Konstas, Wyatt Canfield, and Austin Nolan for working within the technology department; and Ben Foster as a member of custodial staff, all for the duration of nine weeks over the summer.
Mathematics teacher and faculty representative Jack Keihl addressed the board in the company of many faculty members from across the district, noting their collective appreciation for the opportunity to be employed in the district, and reminding the board of their desire to take an active role in the finalization of their contract for the upcoming school year – a task that has yet to be addressed in full.
Jim Ainey, school bus contractor and unofficial representative of the bus contractors in the district, requested that additional funding be considered for school bus contractors and transportation as a whole. He also shared information with the board in regard to a possible bus fueling station on one or more of the school campuses, to be utilized as a cost-cutting tool for both the district and for bus contractors.
A special public board meeting will be held tonight, Wednesday, June 24, 7 p.m., in the Junior-Senior High School Community Learning Center for the purpose of consideration of bond issue and related projects; adoption of 2015-16 final budget; and to conduct end of the fiscal year business.
The board scheduled a work session and meeting for July 13 at Choconut Valley Elementary School. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
Be the first to comment on "Montrose board talks budget, staffing"