PORT ALLEGANY — The Port Allegany School Board worked through a full agenda list Monday night, in its first regular business meeting since last Dec. 4.
Trustees gave retroactive approval to bill lists and payrolls handled by the administration during the winter hiatus. Most other actions dealt with personnel matters and appointments.
Business manager Judy Bodamer was named primary voting delegate to the county Tax Collection Committee, with Richard Kallenborn the alternate.
Board member David Mensch was re-appointed the district’s representative on the IU9 board for a three-year term. Jonathan Stehle was re-appointed district representative on the Port Allegany Area Recreational Authority, for a five-year term.
The board adopted a resolution declaring that they will not raise taxes for the 2015-16 fiscal year beyond the index amount, which would be 2.9 percent. This allows the district to carry out budget preparation on its normal timetable, with final adoption by June 30.
G.H. Harris Inc. was re-appointed collector of delinquent per capita taxes. There is no cost to the district.
Johnson Controls was designated the district’s energy savings company. The firm will carry out an energy audit at a cost not to exceed $15,000.
Two daughters of board member Sean Lathrop addressed the board under public comments. Allison Lathrop, a member of the track team, pointed out that the track oval is higher on one side than on the other. Superintendent Gary Buchsen agreed that this is noticeable, but said eliminating the slope or otherwise addressing problems with the track could not be done until after the track season. It would be a budgetary consideration to be addressed by the board.
Hannah Lathrop asked whether standardized tests could be returned to the district and to the students after they had been scored. Buchsen said that this is not done in Pennsylvania, but that it would be helpful to teachers and students if it were done.
Board members received certificates of appreciation. Buchsen read the citation and thanked the board members for their dedicated service on behalf of the administration, staff and students of the district.
