Octorara welcomes new board members

The Octorara Area School Board has reorganized, welcoming two new school board members and electing Lisa Bowman board president. New board members John McCartney and Shawna Johnson were sworn in during a Dec. 7 work session. McCartney was elected to his seat in November, and Johnson, a Republican, was the only applicant for the position and was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Peter Mango, who retired to begin a business. Johnson, a Christiana Borough resident, works in the insurance industry and said in an interview she is going into the job “with a 100 percent open mind. I have no agenda. “People complain, but they don’t do anything,” Johnson said. “I’m not someone to talk and take no action.” Nelson Stoltzfus was re-elected vice president and appointed as the board’s representative to the Chester County Intermediate Unit board. Also re-elected were John Malone, treasurer, and Jill Hardy, secretary. Chloe Dean, a junior at Octorara High School, was selected student representative. Although it’s early, business manager Dan Carsley said during the regular Dec. 14 meeting his “very preliminary” work on the 2010-11 budget predicts a $47.6 million budget, up about .33 percent over the current spending plan. Carsley said the increase is due mainly to five categories: increases in salaries, medical costs, retirement contributions, debt service, and vocational/technical education. He said he will have more formal figures in January. In addition to higher costs, income from property taxes is likely to be less because the assessed valuation of real estate in Lancaster County is down about $300,000, and down about $1.1 million in Chester County, Carsley said. Stoltzfus noted Octorara has not been hit as hard by decreasing property values as other districts in the region. Tom Houghton, legislative director for state Rep. Tom Houghton, spoke at the meeting, telling board members Houghton’s office continues to work for legislative initiatives which could lower property taxes. He said the Octorara Regional Council is also working to attract businesses to the district. In a related matter, the school board adopted a policy establishing a fee-for-use policy which will take place on July 1, 2010. The policy means businesses and community groups which charge fees, such as the YMCA, will pay fees for using school facilities. School groups will have free access. Superintendent Tom Newcome said the school board will hold clinics for student H1N1 vaccines Jan. 5, 7, and 9. The school district has received 2,700 doses. If there are extra vaccines, the Chester County Health Department will hold clinics for the community. Also the school board approved paying Matthew King, who is farming the Aldus King farm neighboring the school campus, $3,200 for a storm water project. Newcome said there has been a water drainage problem between the properties. King obtained a grant to repair the project, but the payment represents the 8 percent of the problem the grant did not cover. Newcome also said the district will likely take part in the state Department of Education Race to the Top initiative, but he plans to meet with the Octorara Area Education Association for input before a final commitment. In personnel matters the school board hired: Brian Johnston as a computer technicial at a $30,000 salary; Laura Duff as a substitute learning support teacher until April; and several athletic coaches. The school board also held an executive session for personnel matters.