NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: John Gerow (RVO) – The reality of the District’s long term financial stability overshadowed several discussions at Thursday’s nights School Board work session. The Board’s commitment to bringing the District’s budget into balance is bringing focus onto almost every aspect of the District’s spending, as the Directors finalized the operating budget for 2019 – 2020. In the last go-round of budgeting, the Directors discussed several issues, their impact on the students, how to balance wants, needs, and the ability to pay for wants and needs. All 9 Directors were present for the work session.

In the Public Concerns segment at the beginning of the meeting, National Honor Society President Peyton Kirkpatrick addressed the Board with an update on the landscaping that the NHS has undertaken. Payton told the Board that the plantings on the South Side of the high school and that the terracing and planting at the scoreboard is done. Payton thanked the Board for their support in this effort.

*Photos courtesy of John Gerow of TechReady Professionals & RedbankValley.org

Right out of the chute, the budget realities came into play. On the Agenda for Monday’s June Board meeting is a motion to increase the amount of money that the District is willing to pay for an athletic trainer through Moore’s Physical Therapy of New Bethlehem. The motion as presented is to increase from $30,000 to $35,000 (with a$6,990.00 benefit package). Justin Moore has reported that he is having trouble hiring a new trainer at the previous stipend of $30,000 and thinks that it will take$35,000 to hire a trainer.

Board member Dee Bell opened the discussion by questioning the feasibility, appropriateness, and cost of paying for a trainer. Mr. Bell said that he was conflicted by increasing this expense. Board President Dr. Chad Shaffer told Mr. Bell that the athletic trainer was a “safety” issue. Dr. Shaffer then recounted the history of the district’s experience with athletic trainers. Mr. Bell then asked if the security guards aren’t as much of a safety issue as was the trainer, in light of the fact that continuation of the guard program is also being reviewed. Director Jason Barnett expressed his idea that the Board has to stay focused on the purpose of the schools. Dr. Shaffer then pointed out to Mr. Bell that the vote Monday evening would be to increase the expenditure, not to eliminate the position.

There will be votes on two motions concerning local taxes at Monday’s meeting. The first motion is to increase the Real Estate Taxes to 24.779 in Armstrong County and 33.7497 in Clarion County. The second motion is to accept the Per Capita Tax rates, Occupation Tax rate, Earned Income Tax rate, and the Real Estate Transfer Tax. The School Board can raise the Real Estate Tax up to a certain limit, but all of the other taxes are determined at County and State levels. Director Jason Barnett asked that these motions include last year’s Real Estate Tax rate, the fact that the increase is the maximum allowed without a referendum, and that the School Board does not set the other tax rates. Mr. Barnett wants the public to understand some of the limits that the Board is facing.

High school principal Amy Rupp gave her monthly report at the Worksession as she cannot attend Monday night’s meeting. She reported that the Seniors are essentially done for the year. That they have a trip to Kennywood Friday, and three half days next week to practice graduation. Graduation will be Wednesday evening, June 5. Mrs. Rupp reported that there will be 94 Seniors crossing the stage at graduation.

*Photos courtesy of John Gerow of TechReady Professionals & RedbankValley.org

Mrs. Rupp spoke very highly of the security guard that has worked at the high school this year. She told the Board that the guard has developed a rapport with many of the students. He speaks with many of them and overhears a lot of conversations. He reaches out students that he is concerned about and has been able to provide her with information gleaned from the crowd of kids. The principal also reported that the guard has served as her “back up” when dealing with volatile students and angry parents.

Mrs. Rupp also referenced the discipline report in her written report to the Board. She pointed out that again, violations are up significantly from a year ago. When several Directors queried her, she told that she thinks that there has been more attention to violations and more consistency in dealing with them.

Elementary and Intermediate School Principal Cheryl McCauley also gave her monthly report. She told the Board that there will be Title I Summer School this summer. She said that there are 18 students currently enrolled. Nine of these are in the Pre-K group and the rest will be in the Pre Grade 1, 2, and 3 group. Mrs. McCauley stressed that the entire cost of the Summer School is covered by federal Title I grants. Mrs. McCauley ended her report with a shout out to the Parent Teacher Organization for all of their hard work and volunteerism. She said that the PTO is a valuable, essential part of the Elementary and Intermediate Schools.

District Superintendent John Mastillo spoke briefly and reported that the New Bethlehem Police Department had reached out to him to begin establishing a relationship with the schools. NBPD Sargent Danny Clark asked permission to join students for lunch one day recently. Sargent Clark and a second officer spent the lunch hour with students. Dr. Mastillo hopes to see these sorts of things grow in the schools in upcoming years. The Superintendent reported that he has been approached by Union High School about having some Union students wrestle with the Redbank team. There would be no cost to Redbank but would help Union and strengthen community relationships.

The District’s business consultant Dale Kursch gave a brief presentation of the budgeting software that he has set up for the District. The spreadsheet system will allow budget planners to explore spending and revenue options, quickly and easily, with an eye to future solvency. Mr. Kursch said that he has confidence in the 2018-2019 numbers and that he is confident that Dr. Mastillo and Business Manager Cheryl Motter to keep the numbers accurate moving forward. There seemed little doubt in his view that previous administrations had been rather lax and inconsistent with bookkeeping.

The Board adjourned into an Executive Session.

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ABOUT:
Redbank Valley School District provides education services for the 165 square mile area of New Bethlehem and Hawthorn boroughs, and the townships of Mahoning, Madison, Porter, and Redbank of both Clarion and Armstrong counties.

MEETINGS:
The Redbank Valley School Board meetings the first Monday of every month at 7pm at the High School Library.

CONTACT:
For more information about the Redbank Valley School District, please call 814.275.2426 or visit RedbankValley.org/pg/biz/redbank-valley-school-district