Tuition rates at Pottsville Area School District will be going up for the 2014-15 school year, district Business Manager Stephen C. Curran said Wednesday at the school board's June work session.
"For example, for secondary students, it was around $9,200. It's gone up to around $9,600," Curran said. He said the state Department of Education sets the tuition rates, not the school district.
"School Finance within the Office of Comptroller Operations, calculates, certifies and issues Elementary and Secondary Tuition Rates on the PDE-2061 Form annually. The rates are calculated using financial information reported by each LEA on the Annual Financial Report, PDE-2057. The certified rates and calculations are published on the Financial Accounting Information System upon completion," according to the PDE website.
PDE usually calculates its tuition rates for a school year at the end of that school year, Curran said.
So, in May, PDE reported the tuition rates for the 2013-14 fiscal year were $8,942.49 for elementary students and $9,669.04 for secondary students. And in May 2013, PDE reported the district's tuition rates for the 2012-13 fiscal year were $8,481.47 for elementary students and $9,200.08 for secondary students, according to Curran and the PDE website.
In other matters at the school board's June work session, the board approved a lease agreement with Apple Inc. to buy new computers for the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School.
"It is recommended that the board approve a four-year master-lease purchase agreement between the Pottsville Area School District and Apple Inc. for the purpose of purchasing equipment via a financing contract at $85,004.28 per year. Motion to approve as recommended," board member Christina M. DiCello, the head of the board's technology committee, said.
The motion was seconded by board member Linda Grube, and carried with votes from board President John F. Boran, board Vice President Scott D. Krater, and board members Patrick F. Moran, Cindy Petchulis, Karen E. Rismiller and Charles R. Wagner.
Board member Gary A. Cortese was absent from Wednesday's work session.
The equipment will include 230 Mac minis, 19 iPad minis, 31 iPads with Retina displays, a "Bretford PowerSync Cart 30" and a professional development two-day workshop, according to the invoice.
"It's the middle school's turn to upgrade equipment. As part of this, we're replacing all the desktop computers in the middle school. Plus every fifth-grader is going to get an iPad for one-to-one usage in school. And we're expanding our iPad mini program. We're adding second grade. We've always purchased Dell. This is the first time we're going with Apple. But we can utilize either Microsoft PC or switch over to a Mac platform," Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said.
In other matters, the board approved changes to Policy 246 "Student Wellness," to respond to guidelines regarding "competitive foods" set by the USDA, according to Curran.
"Competitive Foods are those available at school but are outside of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. This includes foods and beverages sold in vending machines, school stores or a la carte sections of the school cafeteria. If competitive foods are available, the Institute of Medicine recommends they consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains products and low-fat and non-fat dairy," according to a report published by the School Nutrition Association.
The Pottsville Area school board took action on the matter Wednesday, since the USDA recently announced rules regarding "Smart Snacks" for the 2014-15 school year, Curran said.
"These Smart Snack rules will act as the base set of rules for the sale of competitive foods in schools," according to www.schoolnutrition.org
The USDA offered rules for individual states. Below is the recommendations for schools in Pennsylvania:
"Vending food/snack standards must be implemented in order for schools to receive supplemental state reimbursement. Schools may not offer foods of minimal nutritional value during the school day. At the elementary level, vending may only offer the following: fruits, vegetables, yogurts, low-fat yogurts and reduced-fat cheeses. Only the following beverages are allowed: plain water, flavored water with no sugars or artificial sweeteners, 100 percent fruit and/or vegetable juice (8 oz or less), milk (flavored or unflavored) that is 2 percent fat or less. At the middle and high school level, at least 75 percent of beverages must be the same as the lower grades with the rest not exceeding 150 calories per drink. These standards apply to fundraisers and school stores as well," according to www.schoolnutrition.org
Changes in the school policy includes changes in the guidelines.
"The district may impose additional restrictions on competitive foods, provided that the restrictions are not inconsistent with federal requirements," according to the updated policy.
There's also a new section on "Management Of Food Allergies In District Schools."
It states: "The district shall establish board policy and administrative regulations to address food allergy management in district schools in order to: 1. Reduce and/or eliminate the likelihood of severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. 2. Ensure a rapid and effective response in case of a severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. 3. Protect the rights of students by providing them, through necessary accommodations when required, the opportunity to participate fully in all school programs and activities."