Resident asks school board to consider physical education teacher
PERRYOPOLIS – While Frazier School District officials are just starting to look at the budget for the 2003-2004 school year, a Perry Township resident has once again asked the school board to consider finding the necessary funding to hire a physical education teacher for the elementary schools. Valerie Bubnash presented the board Thursday with information regarding $61 million worth of Physical Education Program grants that are being made available through the federal government. The board also viewed a short video on physical education provided by Bubnash who first addressed the matter in December.
According to Dr. Frederick Smeigh, superintendent, it is impossible at this time to determine what revenue, if any, the school district could receive under Gov. Ed Rendell’s budget for education. “At the present time, we have absolutely no idea what revenues to anticipate,” said Smeigh.
The state’s 501 school districts are required to adopt a final budget by the end of June.
Smeigh said right now the district is looking strictly at expenditures, which includes a number of joint purchase items that are bid out through the Intermediate Unit the district is waiting to receive.
Aside from the bulk of supplies, Smeigh said that salaries and fringe benefits have increased substantially over last year, while retirement expenses are up 30 percent. In addition, Smeigh said transportation and special education costs are also expected to soar. “The costs we are aware of right now have substantial increases,” said Smeigh.
Even if the board is not awarded a grant, Bubnash requested that they make it a priority to hire a physical education teacher. Bubnash stressed that since Frazier falls into the category of a Title 1 school district, they have more of an advantage of receiving a grant, which ranges from a minimum amount of $100,000 up to $500,000.
John H. Lowery, board president, said he was concerned with whether or not the grant would require matching funds; however, the board agreed to look at the information further.
The board also conducted the following business:
– Revised the school calendar for 2002-2003 to include April 21, May 13 and June 3 as “make up” days due to snow cancellations.
– Agreed to retain all fall sports coaches at the contracted rate of pay.
– Learned from Smeigh that it would benefit the district to develop a terrorism plan in the event of a chemical, biological or radiological attack in conjunction with the terrorism insurance policy for the district. Also learned Fraizer is one of five school districts in Fayette County to be awarded a 21st century grant prepared by Dr. Gerry Grant, superintendent of Brownsville Area School District.