Board OKs Budget
Warren County school board increases taxesBy BRIAN FERRY bferry@timesobserver.com
The Warren County school board approved its final budget for the 2008-2009 school year, with a tax increase during its regular meeting Monday night.
The board unanimously approved a $68.33 million budget with a 1 mill property tax increase.
The new rate is 47 mills. One mill of taxes represents $1 per $2,000 of property value. At 47 mills, a resident paying taxes on a $50,000 property would owe $1,175.
The budget includes revenues of $67.33 million and makes up the difference between expenditures and revenues by drawing down the fund balance by just less than $1 million.
The estimated fund balance for the end of the 2008-2009 school year is $4.49 million.
The board approved, by a vote of 7-2, a proposal by Kelly Services to provide substitutes for the district.
Finding enough substitutes to cover daily teacher absences has been an ongoing problem for the district. According to Kelly Services Regional Corporate Sales Manager Patricia Bova, Kelly's fill rate is 98 to 100 percent nationally.
The company will contact existing substitutes to join their organization. Substitutes will be paid at a rate determined by the district. The district will pay Kelly the amount of those wages and a service fee of 38 percent.
Only substitutes who are affiliated with Kelly will be able to work within the district.
Kelly offers a variety of benefits to its employees, Bova said.
School districts in Corry and Girard are under contract with Kelly for the coming school year.
The district's contract with Kelly may be cancelled by either party at any time with 30 days notice, Bova said, and Kelly will release its local employees to be allowed to work within the district.
The board and district recognized 27 Gifted Support students in grades five through eight, five of whom attended the meeting, for their participation and success in the eMission - Operation Montserrat.
The simulated disaster response run by Wheeling Jesuit University created a cross curricular situation where students developed teamwork and decision-making skills among others, according to Director of Special Education Diane Martin.
Students had to collect data, analyze situations and solve problems resulting from a volcanic eruption and the approach of a hurricane at the Caribbean island. They accomplished their goals without any casualties on the island.
The students attending the meeting were: John Wortman, communications team; Matthew Eernisse, hurricane team; Jason Morine, volcano team; and Adam McCoy and Drew Myer of the evacuation team. Morine and Wortman addressed the board about the experience.
"It was a very difficult experience for all of us," Morine said. "It went pretty well and in the end it was very successful."
"We did complete the mission," Wortman said. "It was successful and we definitely learned a lot. I know I learned to communicate better with others."
Jamie Sitler of Allegheny Valve and Coupling attended the meeting and accepted the thanks of the board on behalf of his company for the contribution of software packages.
Allegheny Valve and Coupling contributed 15 copies of Autodesk Inventor to the district.
"These software packages are not the $99 software packages," Board Member Jeff Lockett said. "They are the real thing that are being used in industry today."
The board used an electronic voting system for the first time, with the results of each vote showing on the screen for public viewing. The first vote was a unanimous approval of Monday's agenda.
The board cancelled the tentative board meeting of July 14. The group will meet next at 7 p.m. Monday, August 11.
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Big_Papi
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07-01-08 11:38 AM
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Instead of paying a service 38% for subs, why not pay the subs more instead of a service?
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