Albert Gallatin board speaks out against state budget impasse
MASONTOWN – Albert Gallatin Area School Board members Thursday spoke out against the state General Assembly’s stalemate over Gov. Ed Rendell’s education plan and the lack of state funding it has created for school districts. “There are 501 school districts on the limb doing what?” asked director Janet Swaney. “We worked very hard and carefully on how to spend our money. I don’t know what they are thinking by what they are doing.”
As the dispute in the Senate drags on about the incomplete budget, schools statewide are going without more than $4 billion in subsidies – an average 35 percent of school budgets statewide and higher locally – that Rendell used his line-item veto power to strike from the $21 billion budget as a way to force Republicans to consider his proposed education programs.
“When school districts start closing, then maybe they will be upset,” school director John Gruskowski said.
Several school districts across the state, including Brownsville Area and Connellsville Area locally, already have scheduled emergency shutdowns should the Legislature fail to resolve the impasse soon.
However, director Ed Colebank said Albert Gallatin Area should be able to weather the financial storm without having to close school.
“We are able to get through this crisis thanks to the old board members who put away the money for the last two years that we are using now. If it wasn’t for that, we may be the first school to close,” he said.
“I think people in Pennsylvania need to wake up and ask them what they are doing,” added Swaney. “I am ashamed of them… because we, as a board, take a great deal of care in how we spend our money. We are very frivolous and I think they should have to do the same.”
The board also reorganized Thursday, electing Colebank as president, William Boni as vice president, David Howard as treasurer and Edward Andria as secretary.
The board reappointed the Pittsburgh law firm Andrews & Price to continue as the district’s solicitor, at a salary of $90 per hour and $600 monthly.
Also, the directors voted to keep their meeting dates for the coming year as the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. from January to April at D. Ferd Swaney Elementary, from May to August at George J. Plava Elementary and from September to December at Masontown Elementary. Work sessions are held the Monday before the regular meeting, at 6 p.m.
The board also conducted the following business:
– Accepted a $500,000 rural technology grant for distance learning programs within the school district.
– Announced that the school district will participate in the 2003-2004 Teacher Recognition Program. Those wanting to nominate a teacher should pick up a form at district schools or fill one out on the Web at www.teacherpa.com.
The deadline for nominations is Jan. 30.
– Granted board member Mario Tiberi a leave of absence from approximately the end of December to Feb. 1, upon the receipt of all proper documentation.
– Granted administrators Tony Tokish and Randy Wilson permission to attend the “Rights of Schools and Police Personnel: Managing your School Environment” seminar in Pittsburgh on Jan. 22, at a cost of $358.
– Hired the following student teachers: from California University, Charles Walker III with teacher Jim Reckard, and Mark Krupa with teacher Cindy Kopas; and from West Virginia University, Michelle Pennington with teacher Bill Myers and Larry Flowers.