EMPORIUM — At Wednesday’s meeting, members of the Cameron County School District board of directors voted unanimously to table further discussion on a proposal to merge the football program with Elk County Catholic High School for the coming season.
Dozens of community members and students attended Wednesday night’s meeting to speak against the proposal, which would have sent Cameron County’s football players to ECC for practices and some games but would have kept all Junior High and Junior Varsity games at Cameron County, along with one or two varsity games per season. However, the team would be known as the Crusaders.
Among the concerns raised were effects to the cheerleading and band programs, and the loss of a point of community pride, as residents spoke of Friday night football games as a way of bringing the community together.
“We have a new head coach. We’re already working out and we’re all dedicated to this team and the sport,” said Cameron County student Nate Palumbo. “We don’t want to co-op; we want to be the Raiders.”
Residents also raised issue with the fact that ECC does not have its own football facilities, instead fees are paid to St. Marys Area High School for use of their field and infrastructure.
Most attendees did agree that a co-op would likely be necessary, but they do not believe that now is the time. This year, more than 30 students have already committed to the Varsity team. Junior High’s numbers are slightly lower, but they have enough players to field a team.
Several residents questioned whether the board would look into a co-op program with nearby Austin School District, but Superintendent Dr. Keith Wolfe stated that they would not because that district has a current agreement with Coudersport. When asked, Wolfe stated that they would certainly consider that option if they were approached by Austin personnel.
The high school pool will reopen for the season as of June 4, with slightly higher season pass and daily admission prices to try and recoup some of the revenue lost each year through the pool’s operation. A community pool committee was organized last year after discussion that the pool may have to close due to decreased use and flagging revenues.
Admission costs have nearly doubled for season passes, while daily admission rates have risen to $5. A family season ticket now costs $90, but it can be purchased for $75 during pre-season sales running through June 1. Likewise, an adult season pass will cost $65, or $55 pre-season, and student passes will cost $55, or $45 pre-season.
Weekly tickets can also be purchased and will cost $25 for a family or $15 for an individual.
Pool hours have also been shortened. The pool will now be open from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Board members approved a preliminary general fund budget for the 2018-2019 school year in the amount of $12,614,713. The budget will be available for public review in the business office at the high school and on the district website. Expenditures currently exceed projected revenues by approximately $242,000, though within that amount is about $70,000 for an administration position that is not currently filled.
The board narrowly accepted a bid by Tettis Plumbing to replace a boiler in the high school that is unserviceable, at a cost of just over $75,000. A second bid was placed at more than $120,000. Four members voted against the approval: Paul Abriatis, Christy Bennett, Kelli Farabaugh and Sylvia Homan.
The district’s bills were paid in the amount of $244,242.87.
A resolution was adopted approving the proposed operating budget of the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center, at a total cost of $2,227,482. CCSD’s share of those costs for the coming school year will be $109,914.
Board approval was also given on the contract for cooperative special education services with Seneca Highlands IU9 in the amount of $1,085,925, with final amounts payable to be determined after reconciling estimates with amounts of service actually provided and the amount of IDEA funding actually available.
Kerry Cummings was hired as the band front advisor and Michael Jones as the assistant band front advisor for the coming year. The positions actually have as much to do with the band as band front, and the job titles are to be changed in the near future to better reflect their actual duties. Cummings resigned as student council advisor.
On Thursday, the Spring Band Concert and Art Show will be held at the high school, with the art show beginning at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Cameron County School District Board of Directors will be held at 7 p.m. on June 14. A workshop meeting is scheduled for June 7. Meetings are held in the high school library and are open to the public.
