Funding Issues Challenge Redbank School Board

John Gerow

John Gerow

Published April 4, 2017 4:45 am
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NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — The mid-year adjustment in Federal Title I & II funding present the Redbank Valley School Board with both structural and functional challenges as the 2016 – 2017 school year winds down.

Elementary School Principal Cheryl McCauley reported to the School Board that the mid-year adjustments in Title I & II funding are significant enough to impact the district.

At the regular monthly board meeting on Monday night, April 3rd, Mrs. McCauley said that the loss of federal funding in the mid-year adjustment will leave the district significantly short of funding. She told the board that there would not be enough funding available to hold summer school this summer.

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides financial assistance to local educational agencies and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet state academic standards. Federal funds are currently allocated through four formulae that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state.

The purpose of Title II is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality. This includes teacher preparation and qualifications of new teachers, recruitment and hiring, induction, professional development, and retention. In addition, Title II funds may be used to improve the skills and knowledge of principals for effective school leadership. According to Mrs, McCauley, Title II funding can be used for Title I programs if needed.

According to Mrs, McCauley, all of the Title I & II funding in the Redbank District has historically been used to supplement salaries and benefits for faculty. Brian Dougherty asked if Title I & II funding had been included in this year’s budget. Mrs. McCauley said that it had, but following last year’s downward adjustment, budget planners did not make provision for a 2017 summer school session. Board member Tina Kennemuth asked if there might be other funding found in the budget to keep a summer school program alive. After further discussion, Board President Chad Shaffer suggested that the board members take some time to study the summer school issue and to see if funding for summer school could be found in the budget. He asked that the issue be put on the agenda for the May meeting. The Board asked Mrs. McCauley to begin planning and preparations for a summer school session in the event that funding could be re-prioritized.

Redbank and Brookville’s Woodshop Programs Discussed

Superintendent Michael Drzewiecki reported that Brookville Area School District had contacted him about the possibility of Brookville hiring Redbank’s Woodshop teacher on a part-time basis next school year. While still in the earliest stages, Drzewiecki says there is potential for the Redbank District to keep a full-time shop teacher, while helping Brookville keep a career class in place for their students. Board President Chad Shaffer said that he thought this was the kind of creative thinking that could help cash-strapped school districts keep programs for their students.

Cell Phone Plan Reviewed

Mr. Drzewiecki reported that his study of various cell phone plans suggested to him there would not be cost savings by the district changing to pre-paid cell phones from the current conventional network cell phone contracts. Board member Donald Nair pointed out that he had attended a conference recently in Erie, and that had information showing significant savings by going to pre-paid cell phone plans for the district employees that were supplied with phones, or who were currently being reimbursed for using their personal phones for district business. There was some back and forth in the discussion of how necessary cell phones are for district employees, and whether or not district cell phone use must necessarily include internet data usage. District Solicitor Bill Hagar was asked if there was any legal advantage to the district owning cell phones used by employees or having the employees use their own phone. Mr. Hagar pointed out that there are advantages to both, having privacy concerns at their heart, and neither was completely advantageous. The board did not take any action on the cell phone issue.

Student Representatives’ Report

The student representatives to the board reported that the high school spring sporting events are now in full swing with all sports having had their first completion of the season. Student reps told the board that 750 people attended the performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The talent show is scheduled for April 11th, and a group of Redbank students will be participating in a mock United Nations meeting this coming Friday at Clarion University. They also reported that the Future Business Leaders of America club at Redbank had competed at the state competition and did well.

In Other News:

The board approved Journey’s K – 5 elementary reading texts for the elementary school beginning with the 2017 – 2018 school year. They also approved a contract for natural gas purchases for the period of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The board also approved the first reading of two policies addressing homeless students and students in foster care.

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