SMETHPORT — The lack of a state budget influenced the Smethport Area School Board’s action on three financial measures Monday.

First, the directors authorized the administration to make transfers from the Designated Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System Fund Balance, as necessary, until the state has a new budget in place. According to business manager Sue Jordan, “This transfer will come from the money the district has set aside to cover increased contributions to PSERS, with the obligation to return the funds once the state has approved a state budget.”

In the second case, the board approved delaying the full amount of the employer contribution to PSERS until the receipt of the state reimbursement following the OK of a new state budget. The board could have delayed paying the entire or the net amount.

Jordan noted that opinions from the district solicitor and Pennsylvania School Boards Association agree with the legality of the decision.

In the third item, the board decided to pay 30 percent of the charter school tuition otherwise owed that represents the proportion of total budgeted revenue received from the Commonwealth until a state budget is in place and subsidies begin to arrive. Seventy percent of the payments are to be delayed.

All three measures passed on 8-0 votes. Director Don Shonts was absent.

Dr. Charles Leasure commented about the state budget stalemate in his superintendent’s report. He said the House and Senate Republicans are interested in a stop-gap budget.

News reports indicate this would be a four-month appropriation of about $10 billion retroactive to July 1 through Nov. 30

Meanwhile, Leasure said Democrats oppose the move since they believe it would fund the parts of the budget the GOP wants and not those they have supported.

“The budget delay is definitely a worry for all school districts.”

Leasure also reported that one local district is out of money and unable to pay its teachers.  “Smethport isn’t there yet, thank goodness,” he added.

In other matters, the board approved the hiring of new personnel.

Susan Israel has been assigned to the high school as a learning support teacher. A substitute teacher in the Kane Area School District for the past seven years, she holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in special education from Edinboro University.

Christy Olson was appointed a personal care aide in the elementary school.

Greg Rounsville will begin his new duties as maintenance supervisor immediately.

During the public to be heard on agenda items of the meeting, Marla McKeirnan asked about the status of Robert Burdick, who currently holds this job and inquired whether two people would be doing the same job.

In reply, Jordan said Burdick hasn’t yet officially resigned, but she and Leasure agreed that Burdick would be assisting Rounsville during the transition.

When the public had the opportunity to be heard on general items, Laura Lord questioned the district’s policy of requiring background clearances on people who work at school events but have no contact with children, such as announcers and and concession workers, when other districts don’t do this.

Leasure responded by saying this is the way the district interprets the state law.

Agreeing, director Dan Wertz, who is also director of the McKean County Children and Youth in the county’s Department of Human Services, noted that interpretation of the clearances law varies across the state. “The verdict is still out on interpretation and application of the law,” he said.

The directors thanked Theresa Harris, who was in attendance, for a “highly successful” “Gearing Up with Our Community” last week.

A secondary science teacher, Harris organized this premier event that brought  together representatives of agencies and businesses that actively support the school district and community.

Board member Kelly Davis said, “It was extremely well attended, and I was amazed to see the number of staff who were present.”

The board meeting was about 20 minutes late in starting Monday’s meeting due to an executive session. President Larry Dennis said the directors may meet in another executive session before the next regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 12.