Click here to subscribe today or Login.
UNION TWP. — The Northwest School Board was unanimous this week in deciding to restrain any increase in real estate taxes in its 2018-19 budget to at or below the state-set threshold of 3.2 percent.
Gary Boberick, board chairman, said that work on a new financial plan has just begun but “we have no intention of raising taxes, although the major issue on that will depend on what the state does.”
Northwest depends on state reimbursement to finance more than half of its budget, which during the current 2017-18 term totaled $18.7 million and included a small tax hike. About $12 million of the total was derived through state reimbursement.
Boberick, who was elected chairman at the December meeting succeeding Michael Kreidler, said that discussions on a budget will escalate in February, with intentions of having a proposed preliminary plan ready for public disclosure in March.
Besides the budget, the board also passed a resolution opposing State Senate Bill 2. The measure outlines a system of tuition vouchers to finance education, which the board said in its resolution, “would have an adverse effect on the quality of education in the Commonwealth.”
In other business:
• After hearing a presentation by members of the girls field hockey team, the board tabled action on the hiring of head coaches for fall sports, including football, field hockey and cross country. The girls were in attendance to endorse the hiring of Taylor Bierbach as head field hockey coach.
• Ryan Miner, high school principal, announced that a special program has been scheduled Jan. 26 to salute late basketball coach Ed Gayeski. Included in the program is a scheduled appearance by one of Gayeski’s outstanding players, Joe Hasay, who will travel from California for the event.
• Brian Mills, principal at the primary school, announced that kindergarten registration for 2018-19 has been scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23. It was stated that registration can also be done via Northwest’s website.
• The board accepted the retirement of secondary teacher Jack Shultz, effective at the end of the school year.
• The board approved compensation for substitute teachers, including $90 per day for the first 15 days and $95 per day thereafter.
• Board members also accepted the retirement of Kim Piestrak as a full-time paraprofessional and appointed Cheryl Taylor as her successor.