Mt. View avoids loan

BY PAT FARNELLI
Correspondent

Now that the state budget is “at least partially resolved,” the Mountain View School District will be able to get through the remainder of the school year without having to borrow money, it was announced at Monday’s school board meeting.

“We will receive the same subsidy amount which we received for the 2014-15 year,” said Tom Witiak, business manager. “I think we should take that as a win.”

While the 2015-16 budget was for a higher amount, those additional funds were vetoed, he said.

The mild winter saved the district a considerable amount of budgeted money, it was revealed. “Snow was plowed only twice,” said Bob Taylor, head of maintenance. “We spent $400,000 less than budgeted this year on maintenance, between fuel savings, plowing, and other items.”

Taylor said that his budget for the 2016-17 year comes in at $856,000, compared to this year’s $1.2 million. He said that two necessities are included in his budget: air conditioning for the computer room, and a new grease trap for the elementary school kitchen. He suggested replacing the carpet in the elementary school library, which is the original from when the school was built. He said he has received an estimate of $13,000 for this project.

Taylor noted that there are two urgent items to be paid out of the current budget. A critical alarm sounded Wednesday night, and the elementary school pump had blown up, he said. The back up pump is now in use, and it will cost $2,000 to $3,000 to fix the large pump.

“Also out of this year’s budget, the zero turn lawn mower will not start. It is 14 years old, and a new one will cost about $10,000,” he
said.

After reviewing three quotes, the board approved the purchase of a new mower and repair of the current one. Superintendent Karen Voigt announced that on April 5 there will be a meeting at the high school to discuss the Susquehanna County Recreation Board’s proposal to build a community center near the Mountain View campus.

She said that the facility would be a separate entity, and the outcome of this meeting will not affect taxes or the school district budget. The special education budget was approved with NEIU 19, as presented.

A recently held science fair featured a geodome in half of the gym, with a show funded by a grant. A health and wellness fair was also held, making “a three ring circus,” Voigt said.

The 21st Century Learning summer program was approved for fifth and sixth grade students, and five teachers were hired for this program:
Jackie Ferenczi, Erika Gething, Ernie Griffis, Jessica Short, and Mary Ann Tranovich.

A letter of resignation for purposes of retirement from Linda Schupp, paraprofessional, was accepted, effective the last day of the 2015-16
school year.

The Suicide Awareness, Prevention and Response policy 819 was approved.

Diane Reuss of Harford was approved as an elementary volunteer.