SMETHPORT — During Tuesday’s meeting of the Smethport Area school board, Business Manager Sue Jordan provided some background information about the procedure for preparing the 2020-21 fiscal year budget that was adopted unanimously without a tax increase.

Since several new directors have taken office this year, Jordan provided some additional information about the $77,975 used from the Debt Service Designated Fund Balance, which was established about two years ago for future debt service payments.

“As of March 1 of this year, that balance amounted to $817,931,” Jordan noted. “After this transfer, it still leaves $740,000 in the fund for the 2020-21 fiscal year and later. This balance after 2020-21 will cover the 2021-22 in full and then cover the approximately $50,000 difference for almost all of the balance of the loan.”

A district bond issue is set to be paid off in 2032. The year 2021-22 fiscal year is the last year for the smaller payments since the other issue gets paid off that year.

According to Jordan, “In 2022-23, the old bond issue will be paid off, and the newer bond issue of 2018 begins to have higher payments, which are about $50,000 higher than we are paying after the subsidy. So to make up that approximately $50,000 increase in debt service, we can use the debt service fund to balance to stabilize future projects.”

For those residents who have been approved to participate in the Homestead/Farmstead Exemption for 2020, the assessment exclusion is $10,141, providing a savings of up to $195.42 of the real estate tax bill.

In another financial matter, the directors, meeting via video conferencing from their homes, approved the new cafeteria budget, which amounts to $590,522.

Board approval was also given for the adoption of enVision Math textbook/curriculum for grades K-6. According to the district, this adoption includes practice workbooks for all students, teacher edition packages for all grade level teachers as well as relevant special education teachers, digital courseware licenses for the students and shipping for six years at a current cost of $49,258.28.

In his report to the board, Greg Rounsville, district maintenance supervisor, spoke about this summer’s various projects. A leak on the football field was fixed as was a transformer and the exhaust system on a generator. The kitchen and five rooms at the elementary building were painted, as were the lunch and locker rooms and office at the high school.

Some roofing work and rehabilitating the high school gym floor remain to be done.

Outside, some trees and shrubs have been trimmed.

“It’s been a busy summer,” Rounsville said.

Also presenting his report was Kevin Kolivoski, district technology coordinator, who said, “Much time was spent preparing the technology so district students could be connecting remotely to use technology at home after the state ordered schools to be closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In addition, Kolivoski said, “This Monday we received 185 more Chrome Books. This brings the total to 725, which nearly the enrollment.”

Additional network mapping has been completed at the high school. Wireless upgrades are also planned.

An end-of-school survey was done in several communities throughout the district about providing internet service for students if it is needed in the future.

Commenting to the school directors in his report, Superintendent David London said he will advertise for substitutes for a Pre-K and secondary English teacher for the opening of school.

London also mentioned that the school board will meet at 7:30 p.m. on July 8.

The district renewed the contract with UPMC Cole for athletic training services for the new school year at an annual cost of $30,000.

Also gaining the nod was the junior high soccer co-op agreement with Port Allegany High School for the 2020-21 school year.

Various supplemental contracts were OKd. These included Dan Ziegler, assistant boys’ basketball coach, junior varsity; Amanda Davis, assistant girls’ basketball coach, junior varsity; Chad Goodman, assistant girls’ basketball coach, junior high; Christine Lightner, elementary girls’ basketball coach; Denise Frontino, assistant cheerleading coach, winter; and Theresa Harris, band front advisor.

In other business, the directors approved:

* a $200 donation to the Smethport Fire Department; and

* a leave of absence for Sarah Cheatle from Aug. 24, 2020, to approximately Oct. 15, 2020.