×

Auditor: School district’s financial picture better than expected

With expenditures coming in $421,000 less than budgeted and revenue up $124,000 over what was expected, John Compton, of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, auditors for the district, told the Williamsport Area School board that the district is “sitting in a good position.”

Noting that the Public School Employees’ Retirement System has the biggest impact on school funding, Compton referred to a chart that showed in 2015, the district contributed $7.7 million to the pension fund and at the end the fiscal year in 2019, that amount had increased to $12.7 million. Compton added that the state does reimburse the district for some of that amount.

Compton reported at the board meeting Tuesday that the district’s fund balance came in at $17,621,119 as of the end of June last year, which is in line with the amount that the state suggests the district maintain. Under the state’s formula districts should have two months of operating expenses, which equals just over $15 million for the local district. Compton stressed the district is maintaining a “sound fund balance.”

In other business, under personnel items, the board approved the following resignations: Caleb E. Getty, paraprofessional/intervention specialist at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School; Stacey L. Shadick, part-time administrative support in the tax office; Carol A. Shipman, part-time administrative support at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School; Linda L. Radocaj, head coach for high school volleyball; Gregory L. Pick, part-time custodian at the warehouse complex.

The following staff was approved:

• Elena M. Benavidez, extended as a long-term substitute at Stevens Primary at a salary of $50,500.

• Olivia R. Pierce, long term substitute at the high school at a salary of $50,500.

• Michael J. Schaeffer, full-time groundskeeper/custodian at the high school at a rate of $18.35 per hour.

• Marshall J. Nork, after school supervision at the high school Fitness Center at a rate of $16.34 per hour.

• Carey V. Chisolm, event student intervention staff at the high school.

• James M. Gardner and Kathy R. Eggerton as non-certified substitute teachers at a rate of $90 per day for first 45 days and $110 per day beyond that.

• Kendra L. Billman, Jennifer K. M. Day, Keith R. McCabe, Deborah L. Worthington and Robert L. Schanbacher, substitute teachers at a rate of $120 per day for the first 45 days and $130 per day beyond that.

• Diana DeVaughn and Tyler McCann, substitute administrate support aides at a rate of $9.00 per day.

Staff changes approved by the board included: Robert P. Rook, assigned to 8th grade mathematics teacher at the middle school to replace Derek Slaughter, who is on leave of absence; Bobbi Jo Kuhns, return to part-time aide at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School; Michelle Lee Dutton, assigned to part-time administrative support/library at Jackson Primary School; Linda M. Fike, part-time food service worker at Jackson Primary School and Joshua M. King to part-time food service worker at the high school.

Under curriculum, the board approved:

• Offering Lock Haven University course, Introduction to Literature, as an elective at the high school. Cost for the course, which will be included on the student’s transcript as a 1.4 weight, the responsibility of the student’s family.

• A 2019-20 tuition agreement with New Story School to provide a student with special education requirements all related services at a rate of $370 per day.

• Payment at their regular hourly rate to aides identified as being required to participate in Highly Qualified Para Assessment Testing.

• Edgenuity Inc. to provide onsite professional development for 50-75 high school teachers at a cost of $2,500.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today