RIDGWAY — Ridgway Area School District Business Manager Donna Sidelinger is looking for some money. In fact, Sidelinger is looking for $611,000 to make up for a projected budget deficit for the 2016-17 school year.
The district is projecting revenues of $12,799,754 against expenditures of $13,411,296.
It was announced earlier this month there has already been one retirement and one resignation at Ridgway Area Middle-High School during this school year, and there is another retirement projected for the end of the school year. The district is set not to replace any of those positions.
It was also made during the March 1 budget meeting: “there is an anticipated sharing of services with Johnsonburg that reduces salaries and benefits.”
At Ridgway’s regular school board meeting on Tuesday, Superintendent Bob Rocco noted currently, all spring sports are being shared between the Johnsonburg and Ridgway school districts, including football, baseball, and track, among others. Rocco also said the two schools’ marching bands have also merged, and they are looking to share a band director next year as well. The two districts also share an intensive outpatient program, he said.
But the sharing of resources will not stop there.
Ridgway Area Middle-High School Principal Brice Benson announced the district may start sending students to Johnsonburg’s Vo-Ag program. Benson said the Ridgway students will not incur any charges by Johnsonburg to enroll in the program. He said Johnsonburg Vo-Ag teacher Chuck Charney is excited at the possibility of the arrival of the Ridgway students and guidance departments are coordinating between the two schools.
Meanwhile, Rocco announced that a new program in conjunction with Penn Highlands Elk in St. Marys would allow students to participate in a program which will certify them as certified nursing assistants. He said the students would be paid to participate in the five week program. Rocco said the program will be open to students in both the Ridgway and Johnsonburg high schools.
Sidelinger said all options are being considered to make up for the district’s shortfall, including a potential consolidation. However, she said both districts would have to come to an agreement prior to consolidating the schools.
Former school director William Seely of Montmorenci suggested the district move forward towards consolidation, but in a gradual manner. Seely believes a system of attrition would be more favorable to laying off faculty.
Seely also presented data to the school board, noting district salary increases from the 2000-01 through the 2012-13 school years. He noted in that time, the additional costs to taxpayers for salary increases above the inflation rate amounted to $3,961,090.
With the contributions of the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System for salary increases above the inflation rate amounting to $63,323, along with Social Security insurance payments at $39,192, an additional $565,902 was incurred by taxpayers in that time. Seely said taxpayers paid a total of $4,526,992.16 over the 13-year period, and claimed the employees did not kick in a dime. Seely believes a depression is imminent, saying “big dollars are flowing out” and “prices are going up.”
There will be a budget meeting held at 5:30 p.m. April 5.
