The Pottsville Area School District isn't anticipating a tax increase for the 2014-15 fiscal year, said board President John F. Boran on Wednesday.
But at the board's January regular meeting Wednesday, Boran made a motion to give the board the opportunity to increase the current real estate tax millage of 34 mills by 3 percent.
"Right now what we're saying is we're not going to raise it above that index. We still have the opportunity to raise it. I'm not saying we are. But we can go up to 3 percent, unless we go to a referendum, to the voters, the people of the district," Boran said.
The 2013-14 budget was the district's eighth consecutive budget without a tax increase.
Boran, head of the board's finance committee, made the recommendation Wednesday night.
"It is recommended that the board adopt a resolution pursuant to Section 311(d)(1) of the Special Section Act 1 of 2006 indicating that the Pottsville Area School District will not increase any school district tax for the 2014-2015 school year at a rate that exceeds the index calculated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education," Boran said.
"So moved," board member Cindy Petchulis said.
"Seconded," board member Patrick F. Moran said.
It was carried with votes from Boran and board members Gary A. Cortese, Christina M. DiCello, Linda Grube, Karen E. Rismiller and Charles R. Wagner.
Board Vice President Scott D. Krater was absent from Wednesday's meeting.
Wagner, who is vacationing in Florida, attended Wednesday's meeting via an Internet video projection system.
In other matters, the board hired Jennifer Oakley as a long-term substitute and placed on the "Bachelor's Step 1" salary chart until the return of first-grade teacher Carolyn March in approximately two weeks.
The board also approved the following substitute paraprofessionals, contingent upon receipt of satisfactory clearances: Deborah Herb, Jennifer Singer and Nicole Stevens.
The board also hired Deborah Herb as a part-time transportation aide, contingent on receiving satisfactory clearances.
Because of recent snow days, the board adjusted the school calendar, making April 22 and April 23, regular school days.
In other matters, Pottsville Area Business Manager Stephen C. Curran Wednesday recommended Pottsville Area School Board update a few of its policies.
The board approved the first readings of six.
They included Policy 313, which concerns the evaluation of administrative employees.
Curran said the updates were made to adhere to State Board of Education Regulations - 22 PA Code Sec. 19.1. It was adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2013, according to the website for The Pennsylvania Bulletin at pabulletin.com
Updates include:
- The board shall approve plans for regular, periodic evaluations of administrative, professional and support employees consistent with applicable administrative compensation plans, individual contracts, collective bargaining agreements, board resolutions and state law and regulations.
- The board shall be informed periodically about the results of evaluations.
- The superintendent of designee shall develop plans for the evaluation of district employees to be submitted for board approval.
- The board authorizes the superintendent to develop a differentiated supervision model for professional employees in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education's guidelines and in consultation with assistant administrators, supervisors and/or principals.
Pottsville Area School District also held the first reading to update Policy 913, which involves any requests from nonschool organizations, groups or individuals seeking to have students participate in or be informed of opportunities to participate in nonschool-sponsored activities.
When it was adopted on May 13, 2009, the Policy 913 applied to students: "When employees, students or board members act on behalf of a non-school organization or group, or on their own behalf, this policy applies to them."
In March 2013, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld K.A. v. Pocono Mountain School District, a 2011 case involving a fifth grader who was barred by school officials from handing out invitations to a Christmas party at her church.
The court ruled school officials may not censor student expression unless it would lead to a disruption of the school environment or interfere with the rights of others.
The revised policy, unveiled at the board's regular meeting Wednesday, states, "Students are governed by a separate and distinct board policy, Policy 220, regarding student expression and distribution of posting of materials."
According to Pottsville Area's Policy 220, "The Board requires that students who wish to distribute or post non-school materials on school property shall submit them one school day in advance of planned distribution or posting to the building principal or designee, who shall forward a copy to the Superintendent."
Nonschool communications which are prohibited, according to Policy 220, include material which promotes libel of others, danger to students, obscene language or symbolism, advocates violence, disruption of the educational process and violation of administrative regulations.
The board approved the first readings of four other policies which were updated: 121, field trips; 210, use of medications; 210.1, possession/use of asthma inhalers/epinephrine auto-injector; and 702, grants, gifts donations.
The public can view the proposed changes at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center, Pottsville.
The updated policies will be given final adoption by the board in February, Curran said.