Wilkes-Barre School Board members during Monday’s regular meeting.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
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PLAINS TWP. — The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board at its regular meeting Monday approved the proposed 2024-2025 budget of nearly $172 million on second reading, moving forward with a plan to use overflow funds to give homeowners an additional tax decrease.
As previously reported by the Times Leader, the proposed budget, which is expected to be adopted as the final budget at the June 26 meeting, projects a surplus of $433,480. The school plans to add that to state money used to lower property taxes via the Homestead Exemption.
Superintendent Brian Costello at the May 6 meeting estimated that the state’s money pays for about a 6% or 7% reduction for the owner of a home at the median assessed value of $75,200, and that adding the local money gives that same home owner a total reduction of about 11%.
Right now, the district is working on filling out the required tax form with the state department of education in order to have the tax reduction represented on the tax bills that will be sent to homeowners no later than Aug. 1.
Costello explained that the online form was not customizable and the district needed to go through additional steps in order to fill it out.
At the Monday meeting Costello said he “would be very surprised” if the department of education does not accept the school’s tax reduction, but the board did approve a Homestead resolution that does not take the extra funds into account just in case.
Costello at the start of the meeting spoke about a major educational reform bill that passed the state House of Representatives mere hours before, that would amend the state’s school code and would increase funding for more than 300 underfunded districts.
According to Costello, this would give Wilkes-Barre Area an additional $91 million in annual funding.
“There are no limits to what our young people can do, when they are properly funded,” Costello said.
The bill will now move to the state Senate for a vote.
Also at the meeting, the school board amended the agenda to include an item that would allow Wilkes-Barre CTC to utilize space at the Dodson Elementary School at no cost to the district to accommodate a number of incoming freshman from Wilkes-Barre Area and several other schools who want to take part in CTC’s Career Exploration program.
The program, which was started a few years ago, gives ninth graders the opportunity to explore different vocational programs in order to decide which educational path they’d like to pursue.
Costello explained that because the number of students who wished to take part in the program increased so drastically, Wilkes-Barre CTC ran out of space and would only be able to accommodate roughly 30 of 140 Wilkes-Barre Area freshman for the upcoming year.
The Wolfpack Early Learning Academy Center that was previously operating out of Dodson will not continue into the 2024-2025 school year because the three-year funding from Esser has now ended.
Costello stated that Pre-K education will still be available at several other locations in the district.
Also at the meeting, the school board recognized the accomplishments and contributions of former Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Leo Elias Solomon, who passed away in April of this year at the age of 93.
Solomon became superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District in 1976 and remained in the role until his retirement in 1993.
According to the resolution, Solomon received multiple awards throughout his lifetime, including an Honorary Doctorate from Luzerne County Community College, the American Red Cross award for service during the 1972 flood, the John Heinz Allied Services award for helping develop a handicapped sports program, and the Wilkes University George Ralston Lifetime Career Achievement Award.
A copy of the resolution commemorating his life and legacy will be given to his family.
The board on Monday also approved dozens of education appointments that are all pending approval of the state budget.
Of note, the board also:
• Approved Wilkes-Barre CTC’s 2024-2025 budget of $11,634, 869, of which the Wilkes-Barre Area School District’s contribution is estimated at $3,209,431.00 for operations, an increase of $180,971.00 from the district’s contributions for the year of 2023-2024. The Wilkes-Barre Area District’s contributions for the debt service budget is estimated at $176,564 a decrease of $50,888.
• Approved several upgrades to the elevator systems at Solomon/Plains Complex. The school entered into an agreement with Schindler Elevator Corporation in the amount of $37,644 to clean and paint all pit steal, including buffer stands and buffers, clean and scrape rails and hydraulic piping, replace pit channels re-install pit channels and align jack assembly, test operation of all devices and return the elevator back into service.
• Approved the proposal from Johnson Controls to upgrade, program and test the panel at the Solomon Plains Complex to 4100ES and install IP Gateway card at a cost of $7,016.38.
• Approved the proposal from Keystone Sports Construction to repair the Solomon Complex synthetic track at a cost of $5,998.
• Approved the proposal from United Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. to replace the compressor in a rooftop unit for room No. 9 at Dan Flood Elementary School at a cost of $4,232.
• Approved the proposal from United Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. to replace replace the refrigerant on the office air handler at Dan Flood Elementary School. The cost for this repair less the refrigerant will not exceed $3,020. If additional R22 is needed it will be installed for $82.16 per pound.
• Approved the proposal from Green Valley Landscaping Inc. to install topsoil and till damaged and depressed areas of the Solomon Complex football fields at a cost of $7,400.
• Approved an agreement with United Therapy for physical therapy services beginning July 2024 through August 2026 at a cost of $90 per hour.
• Approved an agreement with United Therapy for occupational therapy services beginning July 2024 through August 2026 at a cost of $80 per hour.
• Approved an agreement with United Therapy for speech and language services beginning July 2024 through August 2026 at a cost of $90 per hour.
• Approved an agreement with Pediatria Healthcare, LLC d/b/a AVEANNA Healthcare, to provide healthcare services to students.
• Approved an agreement with FUNctional Connections, LLC to provide ABA based services to the students in the District beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
• Approved an agreement with New Story beginning Aug. 15, 2024, through Aug. 14, 2025, at a daily rate between $296 and $536, dependent upon the acuity level.
• Approved to ratify the agreement between Phoenix Center for Rehabilitation and Pediatrics and the Wilkes-Barre Area School District for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy/Dysphagia Services for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Approved an agreement with Specialized Education of Pennsylvania, Inc. (SESI) at the Graham Academy to provide educational services beginning Aug. 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025 at the following daily rates: $289 (regular school year); $187 (extended school year). Other services provided are OT, PT and Speech and Language Therapies at $150 per one (1) hour session; 1 :1 Aide $204per day.
• Approved an agreement with the Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley for the Therapeutic Educational Program at a cost of $190 per student per day effective the first day of the 2024-2025 school year and ending the last day of the 2024-2025 school year including Extended School Year (ESY) if eligible with appropriate ESY billing rate.
• Approved an agreement with Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley for the Partial Hospitalization Program at a cost of $145 per student per day effective the first day of the 2024-2025 school year and ending the last day of the 2024-2025 school year including Extended School Year (ESY) if eligible with appropriate ESY billing rate.
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Luzerne County Head Start Program, Inc. effective Sept. 3, 2024 through June 6, 2025.
• Approved the District’s Workers Compensation Insurance Policy for the 2024-2025 school year effective July 1, 2023 through MEMIC Casualty Company at a cost of $437,810.00.
• Approved the renewal of the District’s Commercial Package (Property and Liability, Commercial Automobile, the School Leader’s Liability, Data Security and Excess/Umbrella and Violent Event/Active Shooter) coverage through Assured Partners and Utica National Insurance Group, for the 2024-2025 school year, and UCPM effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027 at a combined rate of $407,216.03.
• Approved an agreement with SMG (Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza) for the Wilkes-Barre Area High School graduation ceremony being held on June 4, 2025.
• Approved renewal of the agreement with Raptor Technologies for the its visitor management system at an annual cost of $7,260.
• Approved renewal of the Student Accident/Interscholastic Sports Insurance Policy for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years to Bollinger Specialty Group at an annual cost of $24,095.
• Approved the renewal of the planned service agreement with Johnson Controls Fire Protection LC to provide Fire Protection Services as listed in the agreement effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.
• Approved the renewal of an agreement with lntegraONE for Lightspeed Filter Software beginning July 23, 2024 through July 22, 2029 at an annual cost of $ 44,064.00 for content filter and classroom management.
• Approved Valley Pest Control Management Inc. for a pest control contract at a monthly service fee not to exceed $1,080 for basic service. Additional services will be charged on an as needed basis effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029.
• Approved contract with Frank Castano, Human Resource Director, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029.
• Approved a maximum of 55 hours of psychologist testing during the summer at a rate of $35 per hour.
• Approved the appointment of Arly Flores-Cantoran be appointed a School Psychologist, pending certification.
• Accepted the retirement of Lauren Mascioli effective the last day of the 2023- 2024 school year.
• Accepted the resignation of Edward Rosengrant as Girls Soccer Junior High Assistant Coach.
• Accepted the resignation of Destiny Cabreja as Girls Basketball Varsity Assistant Coach.
• Reappointed all other current Fall sports coaches.