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MIFFLINTOWN -- Property owners in the Juniata County School District might need to prepare themselves for a tax hike, according to a preliminary budget released by district business manager Rich Meily during the school board's regular monthly meeting at the Administration Office in Mifflintown Thursday night.
Meily said a balanced budget in its current state would translate into a 5 percent increase for property owners, or 3.4 mills.
"After the federal revenue decreased so much, we're sitting in a hole," Meily explained. "Other districts are in the same position."
Federal funding is expected to decrease about $3 million, which accounts for about 3 percent of the district's revenue. Local funding makes up for 49 percent of the district's revenue, with state funding at 48 percent.
As far as the proposed budget is concerned, salary costs account for 38 percent, benefits cost 27 percent, tuition costs are 10 percent, transportation and debt service costs are each 8 percent with other remaining costs at 9 percent, including energy and professional services.
"There isn't a lot there that we're not obligated to," explained Meily, referring to prospective cuts.
He added that capital expenditures will have to be worked back into the budget. The district is trying to offset certain costs with increased revenues from Medical Access funds and available grants.
Graduation dates
Superintendent of Schools Christie Holderman announced graduation dates have been finalized for both Juniata County high schools:
Juniata High School graduation will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at Dietrick Field.
East Juniata High School graduation will be 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, in the auditorium.
Coaching positions
The board approved Tony Kauffman as an assistant coach for the East Juniata High School boys soccer team; and Hannah Geedey as a volunteer girls basketball coach for the Juniata High School girls basketball team. Both positions are effective for the 2023-24 school year.
Other approvals
In other related news, the board approved the following facility-use requests for:
Sharielle Willow, Juniata Elementary School PTO, JES facilities, vendor show, April 22;
Alice Arnold, Studio 32 School of Dance, EJHS facilities, dance recital, June 11.
Daniel Stump, Richfield Community Center, East Juniata Elementary School parking area, parade route exit, July 29; and
Melody Thomas, CenClear, EJES facilities, therapeutic summer program, Tuesday, August 8 and 15 and Thursday, August 10 and 17.
The board approved the donated service of rolling of the JHS baseball outfield by Cleck Paving.
The board disapproved of forgiving the district's portion of rollback taxes for the donation of an approximately 3.5-acre parcel to Bible Baptist Church, Susquehanna Township. The school district taxes would be $4,676 and county taxes would be $2,880.
The board approved the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 2023-24 fiscal year general operating budget in the amount of $3,485,564.
The board approved student-related field trips:
East Juniata High School FFA, leadership development competition, Millerstown, April 19;
Juniata High School musician, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Band Festival, Pocono Manor, April 19-22;
EJHS environmental science students, outdoor lab activity, forest land, Mountain Road, McAlisterville, April 24;
JHS students, career fair, Lewistown Armory, Lewistown, April 25;
Juniata Elementary School PBIS Ambassadors, reward/tour, Jack's Drive-In, Mifflin, May 5;
Physics students, field trip, HersheyPark, May 12;
JHS FFA/Tuscarora Junior High School Ag Club, tours, Agronomy Center, Thompsontown and Zugstead Farm, Mifflintown, May 12;
East Juniata Elementary School sixth-graders, tour, EJHS, May 12;
EJHS physics students, KidWind Challenge, Boulder, Colo., May 14-17 (transportation costs not funded by district);
JHS FFA, end of year trip, Lake Tobias, Halifax, May 18;
JHS Senior Class of 2023, senior parade, JES, May 22; and
TJHS eighth-graders, historical sites, Gettysburg, May 23.
The board approved Niklas Brinkmann, of Germany, and Simon Svicky, of Slovakia, as exchange students at East Juniata High School for the 2023-24 school year.
The board approved the following retirements:
Shirley Zeiders, paraprofessional, EJES, effective May 26;
Terri Fulton-Smith, teacher, JES, effective June 30; and
Ann M. Shambaugh, teacher, JES, effective Sept. 30.
The board approved the following resignations:
Edward Reinhold, teacher, EJHS, effective March 27;
Valerie Schlegel, paraprofessional, JES, effective April 6; and
Kara Nipple, paraprofessional, JES, effective April 14.
The board approved the following employment, contingent upon receipt of required documentation:
Andrew Landis, technology education teacher, JHS, salary at bachelor's degree, step 16, effective TBD. Landis replaces Nathaniel Nace, who resigned;
Leann Crimmel, dean of students, EJES, salary at $82,000, effective Aug. 14, new position;
Ben Lauver, social studies teacher, TJHS, salary at bachelor's degree, step 2, effective Aug. 23. Lauver replaces Wendy Jerrehian, who resigned;
Heather Dysinger, kindergarten teacher, JES, salary at master's degree, step 6, effective Aug. 23. Dysinger replaces Suzanne Lutinski, who retired;
Chanda Everett, Level 1 paraprofessional, EJES, salary at $14.03 per hour, effective TBD. Everett replaced Damian Malfara, who resigned; and
Courtney Beiler, Level 1 paraprofessional, JES, salary at 14.76 per hour, effective April 21. Beiler replaces Kara Nipple, who resigned.
The board approved the transfer of Hope Rhea from a Level 1 paraprofessional at JES to a Level 2 paraprofessional at JES. Rhea replaces Valerie Schlegel, effective April 11.
The board approved employment of summer custodial workers:
Jarred Dressler and James McLaughlin, maintenance, at a rate of $19.00 per hour;
Waylon Ehrenzeller and Max Lauver, grounds, at a rate of $15.00 per hour;
Andrea Baer, Aaron Beverlin, Evan Leach, Kyle Louder and Jack Strawser, cleaners, at a rate of $11.50 per hour; and
Jodi Dillman as a substitute.
The board approved supplemental position assignments:
Jennifer Murray, TJHS SAP Team, effective 2022-23 school year; and
Margaret Hackenberger, intern mentor, effective Feb. 1.
The board approved the following position changes:
Establish an elementary autistic support position for the 2023-24 school year, paid from Medical Access funds; and
Temporary school psychologist position to a permanent position, paid from Medical Access funds
Rescinded the March 16 action to approve the reclassification of the position held by Ashli H. Stone, from Level 1 paraprofessional to Level 2 paraprofessional, due to subsequent change in the level of student support required.