—
The Greater Johnstown school board on Thursday adopted a $45,409,749 spending plan for the 2012-13 school year that holds the line on taxes.
The budget is identical to the preliminary budget the board approved last month.
Revenues are anticipated at $38,165,912 with the remaining $7,243,637 coming from the district’s reserve fund.
It is the 15th consecutive year without a tax increase in the district.
Superintendent Gerald Zahorchak said the board has been able to keep taxes stable through good stewardship.
He said the board’s efforts over the years have enabled the district to accumulate $20 million in reserves.
With the budget cuts from the state and less local revenue due to declining real-estate assessments, the district had to take $7.24 million from that reserve fund.
Everyone in the district is working hard to offset those losses, Zahorchak said.
The district is working to find other ways to raise revenues and reduce expenditures.
He said two central office positions recently were merged into one, saving $55,000 a year.
Other positions also have been combined, with administrators working longer hours to complete the work, he said.
Principals and other administrators accepted an agreement Thursday that will hold salary increases to the cost of living index for the area covered by the school district as determined by the state Department of Revenue, he said.
The board held a minute of silence in memory of one of its longtime members, Raymond Arcurio, who died June 23.
Board President Richard Unger described Arcurio as a valued board member.
“He was community-minded,” Unger said.
“He was fair in his decisions, and if there was ever a matter that had to be questioned, he would debate it as a professional and would accept the decision of the board whether it was what he wanted or not.
“He always did what was best for the community and for our students. He will be missed immensely.”
Unger said the board will advertise to fill Arcurio’s seat. The board will appoint a new member after interviewing applicants, he said.
In other business, the board accepted a $3.2 million competitive state grant that will be spread out over three years to make improvements at the middle school. The grant will add two reading specialists, a math specialist and a counselor, Zahorchak said. The funds also will create an early warning system to support students in danger of failing and build a student information system that will make it less burdensome for teachers to retrieve data, Zahorchak said.
That grant is coming at a great time in light of declining state and local funds, he said.
The district also hired two teachers and two aides for children with disabilities by using money it earned through the federal Access Fund. The money is earned by providing assistance to students with medical needs, Zahorchak said.
The board rehired Neil Cobaugh as head coach for the varsity boys basketball team. It rehired Chucky Wyatt Jr. and William Sharp for one-year terms as Cobaugh’s assistants.
The board hired Heather Cigich and John Bianconi to one-year terms as assistant coaches for the varsity girls basketball team.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
