2024 PIKE DELTA YORK SCHOOL BOARD Members of the Pike Delta York Board of Education pose for a photo after convening for the councils first meeting of 2024 Pictured are from left Jeff Lintermoot Jackie Chiesa President Alice Simon Tim Ford and Vice President Jeremy Lohman
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The failure of a $1.3 million Pike-Delta-York Local School District substitute levy in November led its school board to approve a general plan for major cuts this fall should it not pass in a second attempt this March.
According to the plan put forth by Superintendent Jon Burke, the school would eliminate five teaching positions, three district aides and two bus drivers, increase pay-to-participate sports from $50 to $100.
Burke said the effects of the loss of staff would include limiting K-8 transportation to within 2 miles of the schools, only transporting Four County Career Center students from school to school, eliminating field trips and “alternative educational opportunities,” and eliminating some specialized educational programming and instructional supports.
“We’re trimming fat off of a bodybuilder where there’s not a whole lot of fat,” Burke said. “What we’re working with here, you know, we’re not bare bones but there’s not a whole lot extra.”
The permanent cuts in the existing plan are projected to reduce $676,750 in costs compared to the levy deficit for the first half 2025 of $668,000. Further cuts would be required to make up the loss of an additional $668,000 through the remainder of the year.
“I just need to reemphasize the importance that the substitute levy plus the income tax levy has for the stability of finances in our district moving forward,” Burke said.
According to Burke, the two levies currently make up roughly 20 percent of the district’s budget.
“It’s really important that we have both of those levies, I can’t stress that enough,” he said. The current substitute levy collects through the end of 2024.
STUDENT RECOGNITION
The board recognized students of the month as follows: kindergarteners Amelie Greene and Jayden Bongiorno for Delta Elementary; eighth-grade student Aireana Mull for Delta Middle School; senior Madelyn Hasapes for Delta High School, and senior Jolenis Murillo-Montalvan for the Four County Career Center.
The board also gave recognition of artistic achievement to freshman Aubree Perdew and sophomores Mya Martinez, Jadon Lohman, and Alexis Bernal.
OTHER BUSINESS
Alice Simon was named Board President and Jeremy Lohman vice president. Board member Tim Ford was named Ohio School Board Association (OSBA) legislative liaison for the year and Jeff Lintermoot the OSBA Student Achievement Liaison.
The board set its 2024 meetings for the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., with some alteration expected for conflicts, weather events, and the like.
The board had its first brief discussion on the 2024-2025 school calendar, the largest change in which is the elimination of five two-hour delay days for staff professional development. The first day of school for the year will be either August 19 or 20.
Superintendent Burke reported that, along with all other schools in Fulton County, schools in the district would be closed for a calamity day on April 8 in order to avoid issues related to the expected influx of tourists for the solar eclipse.
The board set the board service fund for 2024 at $5,000. It was set at the same amount last year, during which total expenditures were just under $5,050.
The board appointed Superintendent Burke as the purchasing agent for all purchases up to $50,000, to approve expenditures for activity accounts, to employe personnel, to accept resignations, and to approve staff leaves and professional meetings for 2024.
The board established a 2024 Public Records Commission for the board, which will include the board president, superintendent, and treasurer. The annual commission is in charge of scheduling records disposal and works with the state historical association and state auditor.
The board authorized the treasurer to invest funds, pay bills within appropriations, and make short-term advances as needed from the general fund as well as some other basic duties.
The board designated Ennis & Britton Co. LPA, Brickler & Eckler, and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP as its official representation for day-to-day issues, financial issues, and tax abatement issues, respectively.
The board approved its OSBA membership and subscriptions for 2024 at a cost of $5,739. The membership cost was $500 higher than last year.
The board scheduled 2024-2025 kindergarten registration for May 21-22 at Pike-Delta-York Elementary.
The board approved the appointments of Judy Ann Stine and Michael Mangas to the Delta Public Library Board of Trustees. Stine will fill a new term lasting from Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2030, and Mangas will complete the term vacated by Wendy Boon, ending on Dec. 31, 2024.
The board ended its meeting by going into executive session for the purpose of “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.”
The next board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
