At its meeting on January 22nd, the Mountain View School Board paused a moment following the Lord’s prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to mourn the loss that very morning of the Mountain View Director of Special Services, Dr. Patricia Pasierb. Dr. Pasierb died in a crash on Interstate 81 on the way to school with learning support teacher, Rebecca Giordano, who was also injured. Dr. Pasierb was in her second year at Mountain View.
The meeting took place under a cloud, but heard first from student government representative Matt Dougherty who reported that Mountain View lost out in its bid to host the SGA annual conference. The bid from a small rural school district was a long shot anyway, but Mountain View students gave it their all. Superintendent Karen Voigt said that because of winter weather, students were not able to make their pitch in person, but were forced to present on video, but should be proud of the work they put into the effort.
Mr. Dougherty also noted that the senior prom would be held on May 25 at Montdale Country Club.
The Board then heard from Brian Kelly and Brad Murray of Brian T. Kelly, CPA and Associates of Carbondale on their audit of the District’s books for the fiscal year that ended last June. Messrs. Kelly and Murray gave the District’s books top marks, noting only that documentation for the food service program was lacking due to a flawed digitization procedure. They recommended that paper copies be maintained at least through completion of the annual audit.
The auditors noted that the district bettered its anticipated deficit of $1.7 million by overspending only by about $257,000. The District ended the fiscal year with a general fund balance of $3.4 million. Food service ended with a fund balance of about $97,000. The District carries a debt load of about $2.2 million at 1.48% until 2020. They remarked that the District also carries a $32 million pension liability, in common with all school districts across the state.
Board Treasurer Edward Napierkowski followed up with December figures. The general fund began the month with a balance of $7.5 million, ending up with $6.8 million. The cafeteria fund started off with almost $26,000 and ended with over $47,000. According to Finance Committee chair Jason Richmond, the District spent almost $2.6 million in November; January 2018 bills totaled about $144,000. The Board approved a transfer of $30,000 from the general fund to the cafeteria.
Director of Buildings and Grounds Robert Taylor reported that investigators from Energy Systems Group (ESG), hired to evaluate the District’s energy consumption and make recommendations, have been active throughout the buildings. Some 25 interested students have been following the activity closely with the cooperation of the contractor. Mr. Taylor also reported that the District has saved nearly $100,000 in heating costs through the use of a wood-fired boiler.
Board President Michael Barhite reported that another meeting with the teachers’ union is scheduled for February 12, 2018.
Board member Kenneth Decker asked that the schools find a way to recognize the contributions of Bill McLaughlin, long-time physical education teacher and coach. Mr. Richmond and High School Principal Robert Presley said that several ideas are under consideration.
The Mountain View School Board will meet next in public session on February 12, 2018 beginning at 7:00pm in the conference room in the Elementary School. The Board’s Policy Committee will also meet on Thursday, February 1, 2018 beginning at 7:00pm.
