EMPORIUM — Members of the Cameron County School District board of directors voted to adopt a final budget and enact real estate taxes during a regular meeting held Thursday evening.
The final general fund budget for the 2018-19 school year was unanimously adopted by the board, with expenditures in the amount of $12,650,489. A deficit of $278,000 is expected for the coming year.
The tax levy will remain at 44.33 mills, or $4.43 on each $100 of assessed valuation for real estate within the county. Additional taxes of a 1 percent earned income tax, 1 percent realty transfer tax, $10 per capita split with the municipality of residence, and $5 per capita tax will remain unchanged from last year. Revenue to be brought in from the real estate tax is expected to total $2,598,953.
The Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Resolution was approved.
The district has been accepted into a state program that brings additional counselors and services in to schools to help children and families in need.
“There is a need for additional behavioral health services for our students, not just through the school, but family-based and other services as well,” stated Superintendent Keith Wolfe. “I think it will be very beneficial to our students.”
Participation will make three additional counselors available for students at no cost to the district, with insurance companies to be billed for services rendered. The district has only to provide office space for the staff members who will be in the building working with students and their families. St. Marys and Bradford districts already participate in the program. The district will partner with Beacon Light to provide counseling.
Several other programs that the district has offered in the past were continued for the coming school year. The Student Assistance Program (SAP), Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program and LIFE/Incredible Years programs through Dickinson Center were approved, as was the SAP through Drug & Alcohol Services.
A facility use agreement was approved with the Emporium Powerlifting Club to run through June 30, 2019. Members Marilyn Erickson and Kristine Umble voted against the move.
An agreement was approved with the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, as CCSD will be a host satellite district of the college.
District bills in the amount of $614,529.26 were approved for payment.
The resignation of David Sullivan as athletic director, effective June 30, was approved. The position will be advertised.
Resignations were also accepted Mary O’Connor from her position as math department chair and Bonita Burgess as science department chair. The two are not resigning from their teaching positions. The district will no longer have department chair positions.
The board approved advertising to fill two assistant football coach positions. The move passed with two no votes from Robert Lininger and Kelli Farabaugh. Member Sylvia Homan was absent.
Approval was also given to advertise for a student aide for the coming school year.
One student was disciplined according to provisions set forth in the agreement in lieu of an expulsion hearing dated May 30.
The next regular meeting of the Cameron County School board will be held at 7 p.m. on July 12. No workshop meeting is scheduled for July.
