Laurel Highlands watches budget process
Laurel Highlands School Board approved a series of personnel matters Thursday night, and may have more to fill at a special meeting scheduled next month.
However, the board is doing so with an eye to events in Harrisburg, where Gov. Tom Wolf reportedly will veto a bill passed by the General Assembly to complete the 2015-16 budget.
Board budget chairperson Melvyn Sepic said the district did not have to borrow additional money … yet … to keep the district’s schools operating.
If a budget isn’t passed and remaining state education subsidies aren’t released soon, Sepic said, “we may have to borrow between $10 and $15 million to finish the school year.”
Most measures passed without opposition Thursday night, but directors Debra Bortz and Beverly Beal voted against paying bills for February.
Bortz has been voting against paying the bills, telling her colleagues, “the bills are extremely high and we spend money like water.”
Bortz and Beal did join their colleagues in approving cafeteria bills. Bortz chairs the board’s food service committee and Beal is co-chairperson.
The board approved Tamela LaFisca’s bid for the cafeteria manager’s post at Marshall Elementary School and Carole Russell’s bid to be promoted into LaFisca’s former role at Hatfield Elementary School.
Ethan Mildren was approved to succeed Bob Madison Sr. who resigned as assistant freshman baseball coach. Zachary Hixson was named head coach and Jason Kurek assistant coach for the seventh and eighth grade softball team.
Amanda Sisson-Giachetti was named assistant coach for seventh and eighth grade boys and girls track and Michele Sherbondy was named from six candidates interviewed for head varsity cheerleader sponsor.
Long-term substitute teachers approved Thursday included Courtney Radcliffe (middle school science), Kylie Pearson (Title I at Clark and Marshall elementary schools) and Natalie Grote (middle school).
Andrew Kopachko was hired as a permanent substitute security guard and Christopher Wolverton and Keith Coddington were hired as additional First Student bus drivers.
A fifth agreement was approved between Laurel Highlands and the University of Pittsburgh for a dual enrollment college in high school class, involving Carl Shusko and the advanced placement U.S. Government and Politics Class at the high school.
Curriculum chairperson Tom Landman said kindergarten registration is scheduled May 2-5 for youngsters who turn 5 on or before Aug. 31. Registration is scheduled from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and noon-2 p.m. May 2 at Clark Elementary School, then from 9-11 a.m. and 1:15-3:15 p.m. May 3 at Hutchinson Elementary School, May 4 at Marshall Elementary School and May 5 at Hatfield Elementary School.
The board scheduled a special meeting for general purposes, including possible personnel matters, for April 7 at 6 p.m. in the district administration building.