SMETHPORT — Without a state budget in place, the Smethport Area School District will be unable to meet payroll for the first pay period in July without a tax and revenue anticipation note from a lending institution.
During the school board’s meeting on Monday, Superintendent Dr. Charles Leasure noted this is 257 days without a full state budget, although the district did receive a partial payment in December. Leasure said that after checking the Legislature’s calendar, “lawmakers are in session three days this week and the topic of ‘schools’ is not on the agenda.”
At Leasure’s request, Business Manager Sue Jordan presented a status report of the district’s budget. “It’s not pretty,” Jordan said as she prefaced her remarks.
The district’s cash flow could be as low as $150,000 by June 30, not enough by itself to meet payroll for the first pay period in July.
The district, Jordan said, did receive $3 million on Jan. 5 to meet some of the district’s financial obligations.
In other news, in an 8-0 vote, the directors approved the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit Nine’s $1,259,043 general operating budget for 2016-17, with the district’s share being $39,830, an $800 increase over the current spending plan. Kelly Davis abstained since she is an IU9 employee.
The board also renewed a fixed cost three-year agreement with Mazza Mechanical Services Inc., for a guaranteed professional maintenance program at an annual cost of $65,760. This amount has remain unchanged for the past six years.
After the board approved the amended Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center’s Articles of Agreement, Leasure noted the Kane Area School District is now an official member of the Career and Technical Center in Port Allegany.
In personnel matters, Laura Hilyer was appointed a long-term substitute as a high school English teacher, effective March 7 through the end of the current school year.
While expressing thanks to the county commissioners for the offer, the directors declined the donation of a heater citing high costs of connections for natural gas.
After some discussion, the directors voted 8 to 1 to approve the end-of-the year field trips for the elementary grades, for which the PTO pays the transportation and any admission costs. Davis cast the lone “no” vote, saying that she has been to most of the planned destinations, in her opinion, the third grade trip to Waldemeer Park was not deemed “educational.”
As alternatives, Davis suggested trips the Challenger Center at St. Bonaventure University or the new Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette.
In response, Elementary Principal Larry Rondinelli said the PTO has never been informed of a requirement that all the field trips had to be of an “educational” nature.
High School Principal Robert Miller reported that a committee of secondary school personnel is proposing increasing the number of credits required for graduation be increased from the current 24 to 26, by adding math and science. Miller said this recommendation would be effective in 2019. “There is plenty of room in the schedule, and it would reduce the number of study halls,” he said.
Also, the board heard a request from a parent of a nearby school district who requested the directors consider allowing her child to attend the Smethport district so she “could benefit from the high school’s course offerings.”
