SCSD budget gets final OK
Published: June 24, 2009
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
e-mail this
share thisSusquehanna Community school board voted at the June 17 meeting to approve the final budget of $13.9 million for 2009/2010. The final numbers are only slightly higher than the proposed budget presented previously.
Taxes will go up 0.52 mills for Susquehanna County residents in the district and 0.38 mills for Wayne County residents in the district.
According to Superintendent Bronson Stone, the state budget is a “mess” and the district is not sure what funds will be available. School districts are compelled to pass a budget by July 1, without knowing what funds will be available from the state. If the state fails to adopt a budget by the beginning of this fiscal year it will be the seventh year in a row the state fiscal year begins without a budget.
During his monthly report Stone complimented Principals Mark Gerchman and Holly Warunek, Guidance department and all who helped with class night and graduation. Stone outlined all the new improvements to the school campus taking place during summer break.
The revised attendance policy presented to the board for approval will require a student to present a physician’s excuse after 10 days of absence. The board followed Stone’s recommendation and passed the revised policy.
Principal Warunek spoke to the board concerning the Summer Reading Program. A summer reading selection will be sent to each student to read at his/her leisure. A postcard will be included in the mailing to be returned to the school by August 10, in order for the student to be included in a giant raffle at the beginning of the school year.
According to Warunek, there will be five large prizes valued at $100 or more. Every student who reads the book and returns the postcard will be awarded a pass for free admission into one school activity, football or basketball game, dance or other activity that requires paid admission.
Elementary Principal Robert Keyes also spoke of a summer reading program that started before school ended in June. The students had a day at the beach, complete with Beach Boy music and sand. The school has received a tremendous donation from Penguin Books, enough for each student to take home three books for summer reading, Keyes said.
Special Ed director Joni Miller gave the board an update on the preparations for the new Autistic Support classroom and all the other programs offered by her department.
During Public Comment Peter Quigg from the Susquehanna-Wyoming Community Foundation told the board about endowments provided at other districts in the two county area. A former teacher at Mountain View has provided an endowment for both libraries at the school and a Nature Trail has been endowed at Blue Ridge School. The Booster Club at Tunkhannock School District has provided an endowment for their music department. This provides musical instruments for elementary students who otherwise would not be able to take part in the band program.
Transportation summer rates were approved as follows: Potter Transportation at $169.51 per day; Ozzie Miller at $226.35 per day; Ray Swanson at $1.20 per mile.
NEPA Community Health Care’s medical service rates for school and sport physicals for the 2009/10 school year met with board approval.
The board granted permission for the Class of 2011 to hold their Prom at Heart Lake Lodge on May 22, 2010.
