The Blue Ridge School Board was given an “unmodified opinion” by its auditors, Murphy, Dougherty & Company at its meeting on February 5th. Mike Dougherty told the Board to “keep doing what you’re doing” in his briefing on his audit of the District’s books for the fiscal year that ended last June. An “unmodified opinion” means that financial statements comply with applicable financial reporting requirements. He declared that the District is in “good financial condition.”
But first the Board recognized Dawson Stepniak as Elementary School Principal Danelle Decker’s Citizen of the Month for January. Young Mr. Stepniak likes math and reading, as well as hunting, fishing and 4-wheeling. She also recognized Janna Weed who could not attend. Ms. Weed plays the piano, is a “role model” and “does the right thing.”
Elementary School Citizen of the Month for January Dawson Stepniak with Principal Danelle Decker
Neither of Middle/High School Principal Peter Supko’s chosen seniors could attend the meeting in person. They are Heidi Lynch and Carson Church.
Mr. Dougherty then briefed the Board on his audit, which states, “The Blue Ridge School District is financially stable. The District does not have a large industrial base and property taxes are generated by residential properties…. [T]he … District has committed itself to financial excellence for many years. In addition, the School District system of financial planning, budgeting and internal controls are well regarded.”
The auditors’ report presents a comprehensive picture of Blue Ridge’s financial position as of June 30, 2017. Although the District outspent its budget by almost $50,000, its income was higher than expected, by about $200,000, and expenditures were lower than revenue by some $1.2 million, so the general fund balance increased by a corresponding amount, at year’s end totaling about $7.6 million, up from about $6.3 million at the end of the 2016 fiscal year. Most of that is committed to capital reserves, debt service, and the District’s self-funded health insurance program.
Blue Ridge funds its own health insurance program for staff. The balance available in this fund increased by just under $400,000. Mr. Dougherty noted that the operation of the program is like a “roller coaster,” with “unpredictable” expenses. Minutes for the January 15, 2018 meeting seem to indicate that the District has contracted with Pennsylvania Trust to review this program.
Mr. Dougherty noted that the food service program has a pension liability of about $518,000 that makes its financial position look dismal. However, like the District’s own pension liability of some $25.5 million, it is an artifact of the state’s overall pension liability problems that seem intractable as long as the state government has no solution for the huge shortfall statewide. With a total budget of something less than $18 million, the District’s official pension liability is almost laughable. In fact, Board President Chris Lewis remarked that if the state ever called in that amount, he would simply hand them the keys. Blue Ridge is not unique: every public school district in the state is facing the same situation.
The Board, less Harold Empett, Christina Cosmello and Edward Arnold, accepted the 17-point agenda in a single motion. Items included:
- Approving the audit as presented by Mr. Dougherty.
- Approving a calendar for the next school year. Classes will begin on Monday, August 27, 2018, the week following the Harford Fair.
- Adopting a resolution in opposition to state senate bill 2 that would divert funds from the state’s basic education subsidy to “Education Savings Account (ESA) voucher programs.”
- Approving an agreement with The Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency for pass-through funding for some 23 children enrolled in Head Start programs expected to amount to about $82,800 plus about $1,000 for equipment.
- Setting aside the “nuisance” per-capita tax for the coming fiscal year.
- Exonerating tax collectors for some $343,000 in delinquent property taxes turned over to the county for collection.
- Taking out an ad in the Harford Fair premium book for $140.
- Accepting a proposal from Trigard Security Systems to monitor the District’s fire alarms over the internet.
- Approving a co-sponsorship agreement with the Susquehanna Community School District for Junior High Soccer. Blue Ridge cooperates with Susquehanna in football, soccer, golf and wrestling.
- Approving a request for JV and Varsity participation in a baseball program in West Virginia in March.
The Board also approved the annual retirement incentive program for teachers and administrators with 2 options. Under option 1, eligible employees must have 20 years of service at Blue Ridge and be eligible under the state’s retirement system (PSERS); under this option, retirees will receive $12,500 per year for 5 years through a district-sponsored 403(b) plan. Under option 2, employees must have 12 years of service to the District and be eligible under PSERS; they will receive one payment of $15,000 through the district-sponsored 403(b) plan.
President Lewis asked his colleagues if they still supported the installation of a digital sign at the campus, even with the somewhat higher cost from a new vendor. The total cost is now estimated at about $48,000, including installation in a “monument”-like structure. There was no demur. The cost is expected to be subsidized by a donation of $15,000 from the estate of Frederick D. Lewis (grandfather of Board President Lewis).
According to minutes of a meeting of the Board’s Facilities & Grounds Committee from January 15, the Board is evaluating responses from a Request for Proposal for project to install a large generator to power all remaining facilities in the event of emergency.
The maintenance department has recommended that the Facilities & Grounds Committee consider developing a 3-year plan to replace “seasonal district equipment,” including snow removal equipment and mowing machines. The recommendation says that “all equipment is over 13 years old.”
Mr. Supko reported on the District’s efforts to comply with initiatives directed at eliminating bullying from the schools. Staff are trained in, and students introduced to, ideas and techniques devised by Dr. Dan Olweus, ”a research professor of psychology from Norway, … often considered the ‘pioneer’ in bullying research” (http://www.violencepreventionworks.org). He said that every complaint is taken seriously and investigated. However, he said that, according to the District Attorney, bullying at a criminal level is often difficult to prove, with the definition of bullying somewhat uncertain. To be considered “bullying,” there must be a pattern of repeated behavior, or be planned and conducted by a group. It is often difficult to distinguish between “bad behavior” and bullying. Staff are trained to monitor behavior and to recognize the signs of bullying.
Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Matthew Nebzydoski, reported that several staff from the Forest City School District had visited Blue Ridge to observe some classroom processes and to meet with Blue Ridge faculty to discuss best practices.
Superintendent Matthew Button remarked on the donation of meals and gift baskets by the Bridgewater Church of Hallstead.
Mr. Button also made an urgent appeal for coaches for spring sports. Details are available on the District’s website (http://www.brsd.org).
Mr. Lewis called an executive session following adjournment to discuss the proposed contract with the Susquehanna County Recreation Center (SCRC). That organization is negotiating the purchase or lease of property for their proposed facility. The executive session was also to continue consideration of the Superintendent’s contract.
The Board was expected to return from the executive session to resume deliberations on the budget for the fiscal year to begin on July 1. However, with 3 members absent, and with subsequent defections for various reasons, there didn’t seem much point, so budget discussions are put off to a later date.
The next scheduled public meeting of the Blue Ridge School Board is expected to be a workshop on Monday, February 26, 2018, beginning at 7:00pm. All meetings take place in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.