(PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
ROCKY ROAD AHEAD … The Pike-Delta-York Local School District is facing a bevy of funding challenges due to changes currently included in the proposed state budget, due to be signed by the governor by the end of the month.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
District finances and potential funding changes in the state budget were forefront during Wednesday’s meeting of the Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education meeting.
The board is waiting to hear whether the governor uses his power to line-item veto several items in the state budget bill, which includes changes to inside millage and income tax collection and also instituting a cap on carryover cash balances of 40 percent of the district’s annual budget, which if exceeded would trigger a hold on the district’s ability to collect property taxes. The bill is expected to be passed and signed by its due date at the end of the month.
According to Treasurer/CFO Leland Hays, the changes could also affect how tax increment finance districts are used, which could affect or halt a proposed TIF in the village for the proposed Delta Acres residential project.
Despite the looming challenges, Hays reported the district is currently up about $1 million from last year with revenues up almost 2 percent, even though expenses were up almost 10 percent.
He said the increase in expenses was largely due to the replacement of roof drains at the high school, the purchase of a new curriculum, staff raises, and capital expenses.
“As we sit right now, we’re doing pretty good,” Hays said.
ATHLETIC RECOGNITION
Although none of the students were present, the board recognized student athletes for the following achievements:
BASEBALL: Brady Morr, 1st team all league; Carlos DeSantos, 1st team all league; Lane Lopez, 2nd team all league; Vincent Maurer, HM all league.
SOFTBALL: Gracyn Pelton, 1st team all league; Lainey Bilek, 2nd team all league; Mackenzie Clapp, HM all league; Ryllie Taylor, HM all league.
TRACK & FIELD: Abby Savage, regional qualifier 400m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD: Carson Sintobin, league champ 800m and 1600m; Joshua Mock, Jayden Spiess, Alex Keivens, and Jaedyn Gillen, league champs 4x100m; Solomon Munger, league runner-up high jump.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved a variety of resignations, stipends, certified salary revisions, and summer positions, including the resignation of Guidance Secretary Mallorie Vent.
The board voted to accept donations of $500 for a class of 2017 scholarship, $138.12 for softball, $6,800 for a padded safety wall at the high school, and $1,150 for backpack buddies.
The board approved an increase in student lunch prices from $1.85 to $2.00. The change had been considered last year but was delayed until now.
The board approved a $1 increase in athletics admission prices for the middle and high schools due to multiple factors, including decreased attendance and the cost of officials.
The board approved its annual agreement with the Northwest Ohio Juvenile Detention Training and Rehabilitation Center to provide any students housed there with instruction at a cost of $91 per weekday per student. The board approved the late graduations of Zachary Wyse and Tayton Snider.
The board approved several overnight trips that all occur annually, including a high school volleyball trip to Cedar Point from July 25 through 27, a high school boys soccer trip to Cincinnati University from July 25 through 27, a high school volleyball trip to Hillsdale University from July 6 through 8, a high school girls soccer trip to Otterbein University from July 25 through 27, an FFA trip to FFA camp from July 7 through 11, and an FFA trip to the FFA Officers Retreat from July 16 through 18.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding with Defiance College to accept student teachers from the institution.
The board approved updates to the middle school handbook and to the student, staff, PBIS, and Panther Virtual Academy handbooks for the high school.
The board ended regular business by going into executive session to discuss “the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee, or official, licensee, or student.” No action was expected as a result of the session.
The next regular meeting of the Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, at the board’s offices, located at 504 Fernwood Street in Delta.
A special meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 27, at the board’s offices for the purpose of an executive session during which the board will be interviewing candidates for district superintendent.