Jefferson-Morgan holds line on tax increase
JEFFERSON – Directors in the Jefferson-Morgan School District voted Monday to approve a 2002-2003 budget totaling just under $10 million that will keep the tax rate at 89.6 mills. With very little discussion, the board voted unanimously to adopt the $9,998,317 spending plan that showed no change from the tentative budget approved last month.
Business manager Michael Conte said that the programs in place at Jeff-Morgan will remain and the budget was balanced without tapping into the district’s fund balance.
Board treasurer and budget/finance committee chairman Cory Grandel said the district was able to cut costs on some important projects in the district, such as repainting the buildings and upgrading the bleachers at the football field, through reanalyzing some of the contracts and also by using as much in-house help as possible.
“I believe the resourceful and delicate manner in which the staff, administration and board of directors approached the budget contributed to sustaining our current millage rate,” he said.
While the board spent little time on the district’s new budget, directors used much of their time Monday discussing ongoing plans for a new fieldhouse to replace the Central building. Superintendent Dr. Charles Rembold announced that a non-profit corporation is in the process of being formally established, named Jefferson-Morgan Athletics, Inc., to handle the construction of the new facility.
Rembold said that the materials for the building will be ordered once the corporation has been established and a board is formed. The district has opted to construct the steel-frame building by using district maintenance staff, but Rembold said contractors will be used for concrete pouring and plumbing installation.
The board voted to transfer $40,000 from the district’s capital reserve fund to the non-profit, whose board will then place that funding in a separate account to handle future purchases related to the new building, Rembold said.
“This will be a considerable savings to the Jefferson-Morgan community and school district,” he said. “We hope we can continue this savings throughout the project and put this up at a minimum of the cost that it once appeared to be.”
Directors also voted to approve a lease between the district and the non-profit that has to be reviewed and approved by the state Department of Education. According to the language of the lease, the one-year agreement gives the corporation time to build the new facility while the district will still be able to use the existing athletic facilities in the interim.
After questions about accountability, Rembold said the directors will receive monthly reports on the progress of the site and noted that all contracts that may be awarded will first have to be approved by the administration.
In other matters, directors voted to approve an agreement with Pittsburgh-based Educate America, Inc. to research and develop grant proposals for the district and will provide services for the staff. Rembold said the company will actively seek out grants for the district and will package their proposals so that their work will come at no cost to the district.
He said trainers will also be brought in to teach staff, who will then go on and teach other faculty and staff on instructional technology.
Directors also approved $16,200 worth of light poles for the elementary school complex and adopted a new elementary level discipline plan.
Directors also voted to transfer Rheanna Morelli from the Title I teaching position to a first-grade teaching position; voted to transfer Michelle Chesney from her first-grade position to fourth grade; voted to create and post an elementary computer science position; and voted to post a secondary Spanish/social studies position.
Directors also voted to accept the resignation of Tom McCort, head softball coach, and voted to post and advertise the position. The board voted to rehire Michelle Fowkes as assistant head softball coach, John Curtis as head baseball coach, Tony Barbetta as assistant head baseball coach, Bill Phillips as head track coach and Ron Headlee as assistant track coach for the 2002-2003 school year.
Directors also gave preliminary approval to the Class of 2003 Senior Trip to Florida, which could be held at Walt Disney World or on a cruise to the Bahamas. Directors authorized the trip so students could begin exploring the matter further and also to begin fundraising.