Montrose school approves budget with no tax increase
Published: June 10, 2009
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
e-mail this
share this
At Monday night’s Montrose Area school board meeting, the district passed next year’s budget with no tax increase.
The 2009-2010 budget was set at $25.2 million with a millage rate of 43 mills of assessed valuation on real estate.
In other business, Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees representative Ellen Holdredge was present at the meeting to honor two of the district’s staff members.
Both Kathleen Swaha, a teacher at Montrose, and Diane Truman, the superintendent’s secretary, were given the Lauretta Woodson Award, which is given to educators that show creativity and initiative in the growth of children.
Swaha was nominated for grading the entire senior class’ graduation project papers and helping the students in getting their projects done, while Truman was nominated for being a support staff member since 1985.
“Both of these individuals were nominated by Mr. (Mike) Ognosky and are deserving of the award,” Holdredge said.
Also on Monday, the district filled several coaching positions for next year.
James Lewis was hired as varsity wrestling head coach at a rate of $4,060, Jason Young was hired as varsity field hockey head coach at $3,255, Duane Benedict was hired as assistant varsity golf coach at $2,150, James Shelp was hired as assistant cross country coach at $2,257 and Heather Winn was hired as junior high cross country coach at $1,650.
Winn was also hired as an English teacher at the high school at a rate of $42,330 and Kathryn A. Pierce was hired as a special education teacher in the high school at a rate of $50,509.
During the board’s work session on Monday, they discussed being contacted by the Susquehanna County Free Library Association about a non-surface gas lease the association looked to sign.
Montrose school gifted the association three acres of land in which to build a new library with a five year reversion clause built in, stating that if nothing was built on the parcel in five years it would go back into the hands of the district.
“Their attorney, Ray Davis contacted us to let us know that they intended to sign a lease,” superintendent Ognosky said. “I think it was just a heads up to let us know what was going on.”
Board members showed no disapproval on the matter and plan to look into what the stipulations of the lease would be.
In other business at the board meeting, the district approved several bids for renovations of the heating and air conditioning systems within the district.
Air Temp Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., won bids for the high school in the amount of $30,524 for upgrading the school’s zone valve, $63,239 to upgrade the high school ventilation unit, $32,093 for Lathrop Street Elementary to upgrade its environmental system and $46,244 for Choconut Valley to upgrade its environmental system.
According to Ognosky, the upgrades are all to work towards having remote access to all the districts’ energy systems.
“We are looking towards managing our energy usage,” Ognosky said. “And being able to do it all from one location.”
The board also voted to increase the work days of the special education secretary in the administrative offices as well as the assistant principal’s secretary at the high school and the attendance clerk at the high school from 210 to 260 to help with data entry for the Pennsylvania Information Management System.
Head of technology for the district Greg Owens said that this will be a great help in getting large amounts of paperwork into the PIMS system.
Several elementary students from Choconut Valley were honored by the board and advisor Chris McComb during Monday’s meeting.
McComb said that a group of more than 15 students attended the National Archery in the School Program’s Pennsylvania State Tournament taking first place.
Students involved included John Giangrieco, Paige Yoemans, Jacob Hayes, Katie Warner, Josh Giles, McCade Callaway, Travis Carter, Alexy Callaway, Devin Frey, Spencer Quinn, Chapin Birchard, Nicole Kimmell, Thomas Williams, Joey Munda, Michaela Pike, Brandon Weaver and Rebecca Pike.
Susquehanna County commissioner Mike Giangrieco, a parent and volunteer for the group, commended McComb and the students on their success.
“These kids won two state championships under him,” Giangrieco said. “It wouldn’t have happened without all of his efforts.”
Also, Montrose renewed its occupational therapy contract with Tier Occupational Therapy Services, of Hallstead, at a cost not to exceed $60,000.
Truman and Judith L. Sample were appointed as school board secretaries for the 2009-10 fiscal year at a rate of $2,000 each.
The board also voted to have a building and grounds meeting at 7 p.m. followed by a curriculum meeting at 7:30 on Monday, June 15, at Choconut Valley. There will also be a special board meeting on Monday, June 29, at 7 p.m. at the high school.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place on Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at Choconut Valley.
