Bradford Area School District’s 2021-2022 preliminary budget of $44,488,831, which represents no tax increase, was approved by the school board during Monday’s Zoom session.
In her presentation, Judy Bodamer, director of finance, reported that the past year of the pandemic has impacted the way the district teaches, the need for increased support and the teaching and classroom environment.
“So all of these things we need to address to move forward in our budget,” Bodamer said. With that said, she noted a theme with the budget is the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) federal funding that has been provided to the district to address needs that have arised from the pandemic. She said ESSER I funds in the amount of $974,705 were utilized to purchase necessities such as additional computers, cleaning supplies, masks, barriers and materials for online platforms. ESSER II, in the amount of $5,193,552, will also be used for specific needs such as campus upgrades, services and improvements through September 2023. Of that amount, Bodamer said $2.3 million in ESSER II funds are available for the 2021-22 budget. ESSR III funds, expected to be $9.8 million, will be used for specific needs in the district through September of 2024.
“Local revenues are up $768,000, and that’s largely in part because of our taxes, so now we do not have a tax increase in this budget proposed,” Bodamer continued. “We were actually pleasantly surprised that our real estate collections were higher than we anticipated so we were able to come up to our regular 90 percent collection rate for 2021-22.”
The preliminary budget can be reviewed in the school district until its final adoption by the board on June 28.
In other matters, the board approved a bid proposal from DeGol Carpet of Duncansville to remove the carpet at George G. Blaisdell and School Street elementary schools and replace them with vinyl floor tile. The carpet removals are part of phased projects. The cost at George G. Blaisdell is $127,785 and School Street, $120,323.
The board also approved the purchase of a maintenance van from Zook Motors Inc., of Kane for $26,672.
In addition, the board approved an agreement with the Warren Cyber School for the upcoming year.
In her report, Superintendent Katy Pude said the school district now has just 17 days before the end of the school year. Highlights of her report included the fact the district will continue on with the plan to conduct an outside graduation at Parkway Field June 3, and prom June 2 in different locations inside the high school. In addition, mask-wearing in schools, in accordance with the governor’s mandate, will continue through the end of the school year.
Pude also noted that on May 26, the fourth-graders at School Street will do their annual clean-up at Oak Hill Cemetery, with support provided by the custodial staff.
In addition, a vaccination clinic is being considered for students in middle school and high school grades in the near future. The event would be strictly volunteer.
In other matters, the board approved the sale of properties in Bradford from the County Repository to the following individuals:
1. Cody Hennard – 49 West Corydon St.; 2. Gregory L. and Rebecca A. Henton – 62 Hobson Place; 3. Dean M. Bazzani – 1 Amm St.; 4. Jason Moreth – 174 Kennedy St.; 5. Jason Moreth – 12 Leigh St.; 6. Willliam L. Roggenbaum Sr. – 18 Edna Ave.; 7. North Street Associates, LLC (Zachary Finnegan) – 50 Rochester St.; 8. Patrick Giordano – 319 Jackson Ave.; 9. Mark Speziale – 9 Longfellow Ave., contingent upon zoning variance; 10. Rodney M. and Regina G. Martin – 270 West Corydon St. ; 11. Kenneth D. Swanson and Becky J. Swanson – vacant land, Bates Road.
The following properties in Bradford have been deemed to be beyond the scope of renovations, with their sale declined: 114 South Ave; 402 South Ave.; 116 Summer St.; 19 Leigh St.;. 21 Leigh St.; 117 High St.; 12 Longfellow Ave.; and 994 South Avenue.
In personnel matters the board accepted the resignations of Jessie Cannon-Butler, full-time general aide at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School, two years of service, effective April 22; Leda Lyon, district-wide substitute registered nurse, 17 years of service, effective May 7; and Karie Hirschey, part-time bus aide and substitute bus driver, one year of service, effective April 27.
The board also approved the hiring of Jennifer Morris, elementary teacher at School Street Elementary School or George G. Blaisdell Elementary School, salary at Bachelor’s Step 2, $43,243, effective Aug. 17; Hannah Holleran, elementary teacher at School Street Elementary or George G. Blaisdell Elementary, salary at Bachelor’s Step 1, $42,468, effective Aug. 17; and Sheldon Bourdeau, pre-K teacher at George G. Blaisdell Elementary, salary at Bachelor’s Step 1, $42,468, effective Aug. 17.
