PORT ALLEGANY — Attempting to hammer out a budget for next school year, Port Allegany school board members have concerns over the end of Keystones to Opportunity grants, as well as the possible loss of other funding resources.
As a district, Port Allegany has received more than $2 million in the past five years through KTO grants, which were developed through federal funding to improve reading outcomes for students at all age levels.
With the possibility of Title II (formerly No Child Left Behind) funding being cut — a little over $60,000 — and some parts of Title I being cut, the school district is facing an upcoming deficit.
“When you couple all of those factors, along with the ending of the KTO grant, the district is looking at a substantial deficit getting into next year,” Superintendent Gary Buchsen said during a school board meeting on Monday.
It was also stated that with the continuing deficit, the district would be considered “in trouble” in about five to six years. Meanwhile, with the loss of two physical education teachers and two elementary school teachers, the district is left with deciding who to hire to fill the positions.
It was noted that the district is tentatively looking at an $80,000 increase in basic education and special education funding. Board members also discussed other forms of funding to help defray upcoming losses.
There were suggestions of a tax increase, which was approximated to generate at least $100,000 in new revenue, although concerns were raised about the effects the increase would have on families.
No board member agreed on a tax increase and the idea was dismissed. The board approved a proposed budget for the 2017-18 school year of $15,180,918 in a 6 to 1 vote. The budget is set to be finalized in June by the board.
In other news, the meeting was attended by several Port Allegany High School students who, as an assignment for civics and economics, are required to attend a local-level government meeting to ask a question and receive an answer.
Students asked a variety of questions, including concerns over the plans for a new librarian, the longevity of the GRADE tests, maintenance of sports fields, the coaching staff for next year’s softball teams, plans for the broadcasting studio bought with KTO grant funding and grants to repair library books.
There were also concerns brought forth by a student about the clashing schedule of next year’s track meets and the graduating ceremony of the 2018 senior class.
When asked what he hopes the students take from the meeting, civics and economics teacher Aaron Clark said his hope is always that students will see the connection between the government and their everyday lives.
“While we don’t always think of local government, local government impacts our lives every single day,” he said. “That’s all I want, really, is that they can at least see that there is a government entity that exists beyond Washington, D.C., and impacts students.”
