For the fourth year in a row, property owners in the Williamsport Area School District will not see an increase in real estate taxes next year as the school board voted this week to hold the line on the tax rate at 17.24 mills. In conjunction with approving the resolution setting the tax rate, the board approved the final general fund budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Included in the budget is $199,922,107 in total estimated fund balance and revenue available for appropriation and $112,012,785 in total estimated expenditures.

The Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion resolution was also approved. The assessed homestead exclusion amount is $28,733.18 or approximately $495.36 for each approved homestead. The assessed Farmstead exclusion amount is $14,366.59 or approximately $247.68 for each approved farmstead approved property. The district will have approximately 254 homestead owners who will receive a “zero” dollar tax notice, according to information from Wanda Erb, the district’s business administrator.

With students out of the building for the summer, construction projects at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School have ramped up.

In his report Dale Crans, director of maintenance and facilities, told the board, “Starting yesterday, every trade has more people there. There’s probably 40 to 50 people on site now for every trade. Everybody’s just busy.”

Offices that had been located at Lycoming Valley have been temporarily moved to Curtin Intermediate School.

The district has several projects in the works, including a track restoration at the High School, a window project at Cochran Primary School, roof repairs at various district buildings, ceiling tile work at Cochran and Jackson Primary schools as well as changing lights in the hallways.

“I just wanted to give you all a sense that there’s a lot going on in all of our buildings,” said Superintendent Dr. Timothy S. Bowers.

Approval was given to several change orders relating to the projects being done in the district. They included: four change orders from Lobar Inc. totaling $37,546 in additional costs; two from Lobar Inc., for credits totaling $47,311; Myco Mechanical, $3,787; Turnkey Electric, $9,173; and Hepco Construction, $142,779.

In other business, the board approved several agreements, contracts and purchases related to curriculum for the upcoming school years including these with totals over $10,000; purchase of Power-School Messenger and Digital Document delivery system, $13,300; River Rock Academy Program agreement, cost for placements over the duration of the agreement, $488,400; ClassLink license renewal, $18,525; Microsoft 365 licenses and support, $87,935; VMWare licensing, $16,506; EDPUZZLE contract, $13,230; FMX annual subscription, $10,690; SMART Learning suite license, $11,438; JMF Software, $16,137; Trebron Security, LLC, services, $17,704; Apple Technology $59,696; iBoss Inc., three-year payment, $11,601; Destiny Library license, $13,166; bus camera equipment, $17,482; Treborn Security, renewal three-year agreement, $31,676 per year; Schoology renewal, $35,879; Dell Technologies laptop purchase, 14 laptops for $22,120; and Illuminated Integration AV Equipment, $172,547.

The board acknowledged the retirement of Susan K. North, part-time food service worker at Curtin for the past 11 years.

The following resignations were accepted by the board: Skylar Maurer, third grade teacher at Hepburn-Lycoming Primary; Trevor Loehr, computer technician; and Steven P. McKee, groundskeeper/custodian II.

Professional staff hired included: Alyssa M. Day, speech & language special education, $56,703; Kylie Russell, special education teacher at Curtin, $56,703; Elizabeth K. Shaffer, 7th grade teacher at the middle school, $56,703; and Kerigan E. Wettlaufer, mathematics teacher at the middle school, $56,703.

The following support staff were approved at the rates of pay listed: Kimberly D. Winder, full-time custodian, $40,380 per year; Shannon M. Knight, part-time aide at Lycoming Valley, $19.24 per hour; Tanya L. Vought, part-time aide at Cochran Primary, $17.44 per hour; and Edward E. Wood, part-time aide at Curtin, $19.24 per hour.

Long-term substitutes hired for the location listed, included: Ethan Bilson, Middle School, $56,703; Gwen Cebulka, Lycoming Valley, $56,703; Mackenzie M. Day, High School, $56,703; Nicholas S. Doresky, Middle School, $60,006; Erika E. Edler, High School special education, $56,703; Tymir T. James, Curtin, $56,703; Alyssa Williams, Hepburn-Lycoming, $56,703; and Geoffrey S. Waltz, High School, $56,703.

The following bids and contracts were approved: 210 student desks and 212 chairs for Lycoming Valley from Staples Inc., Orlando, $51,007; 23 teacher desks and chairs for Lycoming Valley, from Staples, Inc., Orlando, $21,221; 15 air purifiers from ED at a cost of $38,925; synthetic running track at the High school, ATT Sport Inc., $302,090; Algo intercom, clock and bell system from VoIP Supply for Cochran, Curtin and Jackson, $279,416 total; and 28 student desks each for Cochran, Hepburn-Lycoming and Jackson, $15,340.

Prior to the business portion of the meeting, the board heard a presentation on Junior ROTC. The board will vote at their next meeting on implementing the program in the district.

The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. July 16 at the District Service Center, 2780 W. Fourth St.