Superintendent: School funding a blind dart toss
Rumors abound regarding education funding in the state, Superintendent Mike Gauch told the Harrisburg School Board during Tuesday night's meeting.
One rumor sounds hopeful. Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget proposal has indicated schools will receive 94.5 percent of state aid. While that is still 5.5 percent lower than the amount to which school's are entitled, last year school's received 89 percent. If the schools receive 94.5 percent it amounts to a state aid increase of about $600,000 from last year. But another rumor this week indicates the last four state aid payment may be decreased - prorated - as last year's were.
"It's close your eyes and throw a dart," Gauch said.
The April 7 election looms large over the district. A referendum on the ballot asks whether voters will approve a $15,000,000 bond issue to reconstruct a portion of the high school that has fallen into disrepair over many years.
The school has held two open houses to show the public the condition of the school and plans a third 10 a.m. March 28. One of the rooms has been remodeled to show the public what the other rooms could look like after the reconstruction project.
"The model room is all but complete," Gauch said.
The room has exceeded expectations, according to a report in the board's information packet.
Gauch said the election will determine whether the reconstruction will commence. Regardless of the election result, Gauch told the board he intends to have weekly meetings with the building committee and report the results to the board during the regular monthly meeting.
During the meeting:
Teachers Amanda Stone and Chellie McGuire presented the teacher evaluation procedure they have initiated. The system involves teachers documenting work in binders or digitally. They said teachers are on board with the system that provides yearlong classroom progress to administrators.
Board President Tom DeNeal presented board member Brian Hester with a plaque for his service. Hester was appointed to board to fill a vacancy and is not running in the April election. Tuesday was his last meeting.
"It's certainly been a privilege," Hester said.
Among Hester's final votes was a "no" vote on the issue of advertising a sixth grade language arts teacher opening to applicants outside the district. Billy Smith also voted "no," but the other board members voted "yes" and the motion passed.
Earlier in the meeting Harrisburg Education Association President Laurie Pappenfuss read a statement to the board to the effect the position was open to teachers within the district, that a teacher who was a member of the union and qualified for the position had applied and recommended the board award the position to that teacher.
Administrators discussed problems with the new state test called Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The test is a combination of pencil and paper testing and computer testing. The computer portion has caused headaches such as restarting and causing students to have to test a second time.
Gauch said the district asked the state for concessions of a scribe and extra time for a student who is quadriplegic. The state only granted extra time and administrators had to spend time working the situation out.
"The math is really, really, really hard for our students," East Side Principal Scott Dewar said.
Middle School Principal John Crabb also said the test is too hard and frustrating for some students.
"One of our brightest kids had smoke coming out of his ears," Crabb said.
Special education teacher Beth Montfort said her students have to take the same test as the regular education students and some who have trouble reading were literally crying trying to take the test.
Gauch said he would pen a letter to the state recommending changes to the testing procedure. He predicts the problems with the test will negatively affect district scores.
Gauch said the grade schools raised $1,069 for the Zimmer Radio's Quest for 1,000 Pennies fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Brooke Rendleman's third grade class raised the most and on Friday had the "honor" of being taped to a wall.
The board approved giving the activity fee money of students whose only activity is bowling to the high school's bowling program. There are nine such students and the $100 fee for each would generate $900 that could go to uniforms, bowling meets, balls, ball bags or whatever other expenses coach Doug Cottom decides. Cottom has funded all costs himself for the past several years.
The board accepted the resignation of Lori Jones as EOC aid effective March 9.
The board approved Chris Willsey as high school volunteer baseball coach.
The board approved fifth year tenured status to teachers Josh Allen, Carly Angelly, Heather Cox, Marjori DeNeal, Kerry Durfee, Ashley Ford, Nick James, Jessica Morber and Stacey Thompson.