SMETHPORT — David Stratton is the new member of the Smethport Area School District Board of Education.
Stratton’s appointment to fill the unexpired term of Carol Duffy came on a unanimous vote Monday night at the board’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Business Manager Sue Jordan administered the oath of office to Stratton, as well as directors Kelly Davis and Dr. Jason Tronetti.
Stratton, who represents the district’s Region III that includes the eastern two-thirds of Keating Township, which covers the municipality’s first and second voting districts, will serve until 2017
A 1982 graduate of Smethport Area High School, he is the county director of the Farm Service Agency in Coudersport, an agency that serves McKean, Potter and Cameron counties.
Duffy resigned in December following her election as a county commissioner.
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association annually proclaims January as School Director Recognition Month, honoring these elected officials who are unpaid as they discharge their responsibilities to public education.
Certificates were presented to the directors: Larry Dennis, Bill Funk, Anita Johnson, Nancy O’Day, Donald Shonts, Tronetti and Dan Wertz. Dennis and Johnson also received separate certificates for 20 years of service. A reception with light refreshments followed the meeting.
In personnel matters, Deb Myers and Angela Dinger were appointed part-time cafeteria workers. Chad Alexis was named a volunteer assistant coach, and Tom Alfieri and Joel Lent were added as volunteer assistant junior high boys’ basketball coaches
In other news, the directors tabled a resolution to borrow up to $3.5 million from Northwest Savings Bank during the state budget impasse.
In his report to the directors, Dr. Charles Leasure noted this is the 194th day without a state budget.
According to Leasure, Gov. Tom Wolf is to submit his 2016-17 budget to the Legislature on Feb. 9, a spending plan that is similar to the current one that lawmakers have voted down.
After the meeting, Leasure and Jordan both said the district has received some state funds. “We have received two quarterly payments amounting to about $3.9 million, and this funding was based on 2014-15 subsidies,” Leasure noted.
“This money that we received on Jan. 5 includes funds for such categories as basic education, special education, transportation and Social Security and retirement reimbursement,” Jordan said.
Meanwhile, high school Principal Robert Miller, acting as substitute athletic director in the absence of Athletic Director Rick Woodring, spoke to the board about the changes in school district classifications as adopted by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).
Under this new system, two new classes will be added for football, ranging from A to 6A, pitting smaller schools against larger schools in district competition in a two-year cycle of home and away games.
During the discussion with the school board, it was noted that this change was due, in part, to the low number of AA and AAA schools in the district, five and three, respectively.
“Despite opposition from Smethport and other area small schools, this change passed,” MIller said.
Speaking about the new classifications and new teams on the Hubbers’ schedule, Leasure pointed to the increased travel times to away games.
