SV budget, with $600k deficit, holds line on taxes
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
SHENANDOAH – At their May meeting Wednesday evening, the Shenandoah Valley School Board approved the district’s 2019-2020 operating budget with no tax increase and a budget deficit slightly over $600,000.
The budget, with expenses of $18,929,474 and a deficit of $613,370, was approved unanimously. Property taxes will remain at 56.975 mills, with real estate taxes and wage taxes standing at 1%, shared. A $5 local services tax, $5 per ton tax for fly ash disposal, and a 5% tax on culm processing also remain.
The budget deficit will be covered by the district’s $4 Million fund balance.
According to business manager Tony Demalis, the budget deficit was brought down from $1,427,637 since the tentative budget was proposed last month.
Among the changes for 2019-2020 at SV is the addition of an autistic support classroom, staffed by an autistic support teacher and three paraprofessionals, at a cost of $212,000.
”We have three or four students that are in IU operated classrooms right now, and we have some younger students that are coming in from early intervention next year,” said superintendent Brian Waite. “With the combination of those students together, it’s seven students, and it just makes more sense to do it at our campus and its more economically feasible for us.”
“That would’ve cost us $350,000 to pay the IU,” said Demalis, adding the district is saving over $100,000 bringing the program in-house.
The district hired Melissa Troutman for the autistic support teacher position with a salary of $54,981.
Another budgetary challenge for SV is the cost of charter school tuition, which increased by $300,000 from 2018-19, to a total of $1,274,690. The district must pay tuition for Shenandoah and West Mahanoy Township students who choose to attend a charter school.
Also approved at Wednesday’s meeting was a $35,000 loan from First National Bank to go towards the purchase of a minibus and utility vehicle, with the remaining cost being covered by a USDA grant, Demalis said. The district, for the second consecutive year, received a $42,000 USDA Rural Development grant to purchase vehicles for the district. Last year, the district purchased a van and utility truck.
The minibus, replacing an 2012 Chevy, will cost $52,000 and the utility vehicle $25,000.
In other business, the school board
- Approved professinal staff in-services, to send Elementary teachers Kelly Tinari, Karen Cicioni, Jessica Fryer, Michelle Brochyus, and Joanne Cieniawa to the 2019 Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in Dauphin County, and to send emotional support teacher Angel VanBlargan to Youth Mental Health First Aide Training
- Approved agreements with The Meadows Psychiatric Center, Child Development Inc., as well as the 2019 Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion resolution and the revised Title IIA Non-Public Programs and Services agreement
- Approved the Schuylkill County Guest Teacher Program
- Appointed Melissa Wentz as Spelling Bee Coordinator
- Approved the Class of 2019
- Approved a request for leave for an employee
- Approved the following for the 2019 Extended School Year program: Teachers: Coleen McGuire, Sarah Lesisko, Amanda McCloskey, Kassandra Stewart, Gloria Laudeman, and Schylar Deeben; Substitute Teachers: Trisha Maksimik and Jake Prescott; Teacher Aides: Martha Lewis, Julia Buchinsky, Cindy Kline, Alicia Petritsch, Gloria Karpovich, Alissa Hoffman, and Marissa Underwood; and Speech Therapist Amy Ryder
- Approved the repository sale of 123 South Jardin Street, Shenandoah, to Theta Hedge Capital for $1,500
- Appointed Margaret Shustack as school board treasurer for 2019-20 with an annual stipend of $1,200, which she plans to donate to the music department
- Approved additional days for ESL/Title III programs coordinator Debbie Stivers
- Approved the 2019-20 Workers’ Compensation proposal
- Approved forgiveness and discharge of back real estate taxes for 316 West Lloyd Street, Shenandoah, which will be transferred to We Agape You, Inc., which plans to rehabilitate the property to transfer to a veteran in need of housing.
- Approved the following appointments
- Assistant Volleyball Coach: Mariah Sands
– Assistant Volleyball Coach: Maricia Buhl
– Assistant Football Coach: Tony Klazas
– 2023 Class Advisor: Amanda Hernandez
– Director of Bands: John Shoener
– Assistant Director of Bands: Joshua Kovich
– Assistant Director of Bands: Jordan Franko
– Assistant Director of Bands: Christopher Circelli
– Band Front Coordinator: Chelsea Ferraro
– Band Assistant: Jacob Shoener
– Band Assistant: Sarah Williams
– Band Assistant: Kieffer Quandel - Retroactively accepted a letter of resignation from nursing assistant Lisa Seresky and approved posting and advertising
- Retroactively accepted a letter of resignation from Correen Azukas, housekeeping, and approved posting
- Rescinded a letter of recommendation to hire Joseph Jusinski
- Approved the following support staff appointments:
– Anastasia Edwards, substitute cafeteria
– Linda Baker, summer employment
– Yulissa Perez-Ramirez, 5 hour Housekeeping
– Charles Staskel, maintenance – electrician
– Vincent DiBrico, custodian
– Kimberly McIntyre, interpreter/paraprofessional - Approved the following building usages:
– Polish American Fire Company, bus garage
– Good News Club, elementary cafeteria, 2019-20 school year
– Shenandoah Lady Devils Basketball, high school cafeteria
– Shenandoah Blue Devils Basketball, high school cafeteria
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