By BRIAN FERRY
When it comes to the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) there is not only such a thing as a free lunch, there are theoretical free lunches.
At Monday night's meeting of the Warren County School District's board of directors, member Kim Angove questioned a portion of the QZAB application made by the district and approved by the board in October.
One of the requirements for QZAB is that the school in question must meet a level of economically disadvantaged students. That level is often measured by looking at the number of students who receive free and reduced-cost lunches.
Angove said the number of free and reduced lunch eligible students reported on the application for the 2009-2010 school year at Eisenhower Middle High School is not particularly close to the number that can be found on the school district's Web site and through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
"Our number for Eisenhower is 25 percent," she said. "The number in the document is 35 percent."
"As one of nine (school board members), I am uncomfortable" certifying the accuracy of that number, Angove said. "If everyone else is comfortable with it, fine. I want the opportunity to put my 'nay' on it."
Most of the discussion took place after midnight. Because Director of Buildings and Grounds Services Dr. Norbert Kennerknecht had already left the meeting, the matter was not made as a motion, rather it was simply a discussion by the board.
Citizens have also questioned the numbers, with some filing right-to-know requests for the pertinent information, according to Angove.
The school district administration is familiar with the apparent discrepancy with the numbers.
"This has been bounced around for the last week or two," Superintendent Dr. Robert Terrill said. "We've been in constant communication with the state Department of Education people. They have given us every leeway possible."
In a previous discussion with the Times Observer, Kennerknecht explained that in discussions with PDE personnel he was assured that the criteria for the bond depend upon eligibility rates, not enrollment rates.
"They agreed with me that the definition is not 'enrolled' in the program, but 'eligible,'" he said. "There's a huge difference."
Kennerknecht said there is a stigma attached to free and reduced lunch program enrollment and some students who enroll in elementary school, drop out of the program at the secondary level.
He said the estimates for the 2009-2010 school year were made using the actual enrollment and factoring in students whose elementary-age siblings were eligible, as well as using data provided by the state regarding applications for public welfare.
"We've already gone through all this, they've made a determination," Kennerknecht said. "I feel confident that we're in compliance with all the regulations."
Terrill said the district is working to remove all doubt from the "reasonable expectation that at least 35 percent of the students will be eligible" clause in the QZAB application. "We've directed (Kennerknecht) to go to Eisenhower, beat the bushes, get to 35 percent," he said.nerknecht had already left the meeting, the matter was not made as a motion, rather it was simply a discussion by the board.
Citizens have also questioned the numbers, with some filing right-to-know requests for the pertinent information, according to Angove.
The school district administration is familiar with the apparent discrepancy with the numbers.
"This has been bounced around for the last week or two," Superintendent Dr. Robert Terrill said. "We've been in constant communication with the state Department of Education people. They have given us every leeway possible."
In a previous discussion with the Times Observer, Kennerknecht explained that in discussions with PDE personnel he was assured that the criteria for the bond depend upon eligibility rates, not enrollment rates.
"They agreed with me that the definition is not 'enrolled' in the program, but 'eligible,'" he said. "There's a huge difference."
Kennerknecht said there is a stigma attached to free and reduced lunch program enrollment and some students who enroll in elementary school, drop out of the program at the secondary level.
He said the estimates for the 2009-2010 school year were made using the actual enrollment and factoring in students whose elementary-age siblings were eligible, as well as using data provided by the state regarding applications for public welfare.
"We've already gone through all this, they've made a determination," Kennerknecht said. "I feel confident that we're in compliance with all the regulations."
Terrill said the district is working to remove all doubt from the "reasonable expectation that at least 35 percent of the students will be eligible" clause in the QZAB application. "We've directed (Kennerknecht) to go to Eisenhower, beat the bushes, get to 35 percent," he said.