A-8 - THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, May 22, 2013
BUDGET Continued From Page One The budget has come a long way since the preliminary stages. In February, the board approved a preliminary budget with a $1.8 million deficit. “[There is] still more work to do before the budget is adopted but progress has occurred,” said Franklin. Expenditures have been reduced by about $700,000 since the preliminary budget was approved. The district looked at adding 12 additional staff positions, but reduced that number to four to save about $320,000. No professional positions were eliminated, but the district will be contracting substitute teachers instead of employing substitutes to save about $240,000.
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“We were very pleased at how responsive our employees were in this process and how they contributed approximately 70 ideas for reducing District expenditures,” said Superintendent Lori Suski. “Several of those items will be put into effect now, while others require more discussion for the future.” The district also plans to hold special meetings early in the 2013-14 school year to get input from taxpayers on ways to save money, said Suski.
Steelton-Highspire
The Steelton-Highspire School Board just barely squeaked by with enough votes to approve a proposed budget for 2013-14. The $19.8 million budget, which includes a 0.64-mill tax increase and significant staff reductions, was approved in a 5-4 vote, by board members Joseph
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state and administered by the borough for GMEDC to make downtown improvements. For reasons debated by officials from the borough and GMEDC, Middletown does not have the paperwork it needs for an audit of that loan – and, according to Courogen, GMEDC has refused to provide its copy of the information to the borough. It’s the culmination of a long period of poor communication between the borough and GMEDC that Courogen believes is not the borough’s fault. “They refuse to be forthcoming, and we have tried everything from, at the start, asking Councilman [Scott] Sites, who was the council liaison, to gather information – he was stonewalled,’’ said Courogen. “We made other requests. Every time we got a stone wall. We even filed a right-to-know request, and that was denied … and so we were unable to get any information.” But Gordon Einhorn, GMEDC’s legal council, tells a different story. In the first place, according to Einhorn, to the extent that there is a problem, it’s the borough’s fault, not GMEDC’s. “The borough is in this position because the borough itself had lost the records,” he said. Nevertheless, GMEDC is communicating with the borough in attempts to fix the problem, Einhorn said. He had suggested that the borough hire Stefan Klosowski, a former grant manager for GMEDC, as a consultant to compile and copy the records needed for the audit.
But when that suggestion was “not getting a positive reaction from the borough,” downtown business owners agreed at a meeting that involved McNamara to foot the bill for Klosowski to complete the compilation, said Einhorn. “We are totally willing to turn over all the records,” he said. “It’s just been a matter of getting our former Main Street [grant program] manager back in town to identify those records for us. And this could have been done three weeks ago if the borough had accepted our proposal that they make the money available to bring Stefan back.” Klosowski said he has not yet decided whether to accept the assignment, and whether he would be qualified to do what Einhorn is requesting for the audit. “It may be a possibility. I am not an auditor, and I am not an accountant,” Klosowski said. “I was in a position there three years ago, so I guess I’m a likely person to be in a position to know some information about that.” Einhorn also disputed the claim that Sites was stonewalled in his attempts to serve as a council liaison, saying GMEDC offered Sites a seat on GMEDC’s board if council would nominate him – but council never responded. Sites agreed, and supported GMEDC’s side of the dispute. “In my opinion, GMEDC followed the proper procedures.” he said. Daniel Walmer: 717-944-4628, or danielwalmer@pressandjournal. com
Conjar, Rachel Slade, Robert Spizzirri, John Salov and Sarah Metallo. Board president Mary Carricato and board members Barry Baumgartner, Rosemary Tonkin, and Natalie Grubb voted against the budget. If the final budget is approved in June as it stands, residents will see a tax increase from 24.837 mills to 25.477 mills, an increase of $64 for a home assessed at $100,000. Since 2009, Steel-High has reduced staff by 28 percent, and proposed staff layoffs, demotions and workday reductions for 2013-14 will save the district roughly $735,000. The proposed cuts include the elimination of six teachers; demotion of four employees and workday reductions for four employees; and elimination of one ACT 93 position, a business office position, nine paraprofessionals and four coaches. The drug-testing program would be discontinued, and band transportation costs would be cut. Recently, Steel-High has been facing significant financial struggles. In March, the school board made the controversial decision to cut its pre-kindergarten program and reduce kindergarten from full day to halfday starting next school year to save $350,000. The same month, a Dauphin County Judge approved Steel-High’s borrowing to cover a staggering $2.5 million in outstanding debt. Like many area school districts,
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person,” she said. The play they performed, which was written by a previous group of Club Ophelia members, helped hammer home these points. Beginning in modern times, Ophelia is excited to go to an upcoming dance with Hamlet, but The Pinks, a group of school bullies, predict he’ll dump her for another girl – and they’re right. Flashback via dream sequence to
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Middle School student, will read the “Gettysburg Address.” Speaker: Kevin D. Little, a Marine Corps veteran who served as a radio operator on the USS Saipan from 1979 to1983. He was honorably discharged
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Moving (packing & wrapping) Picnic Table Coverings Arts & Crafts Projects
Lower Dauphin
For the fifth time in the last six years, Lower Dauphin School District will not be increasing taxes. In an 8-0 vote on Monday, May 6, the board adopted a proposed $56.6 million budget, holding the line on taxes at 18.42 mills. Board member Rebecca Kline was absent. A homeowner with a home assessed at $100,000 will continue to pay $1,842 in taxes. To balance the budget after anticipating a $612,548 shortfall, the district cut $572,320 from instructional programs, among other cuts. Two professional staff positions will not be filled for next year as part of the cut. “We’re evaluating every expenditure in our budget,” said Superintendent Sherri Smith. “And where we find we can do without, we do. It’s a reality for all public schools across the state.” The board did include other initiatives in the budget, including a fire alarm replacement in the middle school, phone system replacement in two schools, upgrading the high school’s camera system, and the purchase of new textbooks.
a valuable lesson: “Men can come and go, but it’s your friends that grow and grow.” After the play, the girls told true stories of teenage bullying from throughout the U.S. and Great Britain, and answered questions about bullying in their personal lives. Club members said they participated in the show to demonstrate that bullying is serious and to teach people not to put down others. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” participant Dasha Deeds said.
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at the rank of corporal. Little has taught American History at Middletown Area Middle School since 1993 and World History since 2011.
HIGHSPIRE
Program: Services will begin at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park. Speaker: Master Sgt. Greg Souders of Highspire, a member of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and a 1989 graduate of Steelton-Highspire High School. Souders is the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 211th Engineering and Installation Squadron’s Materiel Management Section, Fort Indiantown Gap Air Guard Station, Annville. Souders has been deployed to the Middle East several times for Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Other participants in the service include Pastor Willie Caraballo of Highspire United Methodist Church, state Rep. Patty Kim, Mayor John Hoerner and the Highspire Community Band, directed by Gail Romanosky. The Highspire VFW supplied flags for Memorial Park and the monument at Market and Roop streets. Special Presentation: Highspire’s Teener Baseball Team will present a wreath for the monument.
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school-based probation officer in the district for two years. The experience helped him realize he wanted to work with all students, not just ones in the juvenile justice system. Carnes earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology from Alvernia University, a master’s degree in education and certification in secondary counseling from Millersville University and an M.S. in educational leadership and his principal’s certification from Wilkes University. He was born and raised in Middletown, and graduated from Middletown
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“Hamlet,” as told from Ophelia’s perspective. The girl who was Hamlet’s love interest goes mad and commits suicide – because, according to the club, she did not have the proper support mechanisms to deal with the bullies in her life. “She let boys control her life,” said Hannah Wilsbach, who played Ophelia. But unlike the story of medieval Ophelia, the play has a happy ending. After she wakes up, Ophelia’s supportive friends decide to skip the dance in favor of a tie-dying and movie party, teaching Ophelia
said. “But we had nowhere else to cut to help balance the budget.” Superintendent Audrey Utley, said the fall coaches’ positions would be on the agenda at the board’s next meeting.
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Steel-High is dealing with funding cuts and rising expenditures. The district’s contribution to the teachers’ retirement plan for 2013-14 will increase about $450,000 from the previous school year. Health care costs have also climbed 14 percent, an increase of $150,000, and professional staff salaries are at about a 2.75 percent increase, totaling approximately $300,000. While the board voted for the balanced budget, it voted 5-4 against approving eight football coaches and one volleyball coach and their salaries. Conjar questioned the board’s decision regarding the fall coaches, since the budget was approved. “I don’t understand some of these votes,” he said. “You can only cut so much.” Meanwhile, Carricato defended her position, saying her nay vote was because “we’re cutting staff, but we’re giving coaches raises.” Grubb feels the tax increase and salary increases are a burden to taxpayers. “We’re cutting teachers, and I don’t believe we have to spend the money elsewhere,” she said. “We have a tax increase. I don’t believe the citizens should have to be paying more.” Slade said she understands the burden, but feels the tax increase is unavoidable. “I own my own home, and have parents who are retired, so I know how it affects people in the community,” she
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services will be held at 8:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, West Main Street; 8:45 a.m. at Stoverdale Church Cemetery; and 9 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Parade: The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the VFW at the corner of High and South Hanover streets. From there, the parade will go east on High Street, left on Quarry Road, left on Main Street and right on Landis Street, to Hummelstown Cemetery. Chaplain: Rev. Father Neil S. Sullivan, Pastor of Saint Catherine Laboure Parish. Parade Marshals: Robert Stuckey (military) and Mayor Bradley Miller (civic). Program: Begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Hummelstown Cemetery. Speaker: Severin Fayerman, a Holocaust survivor and the founder of Baldwin Hardware. He was born in Bendzin, Poland in 1922, and during World War II survived imprisonment and forced labor at Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. Special Presentation: Krista Baker Jakubic will sing the National Anthem, joined by a bagpiper and the Marine Corps League Firing Squad and Co “C” 53rdr Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
“The next step, in our minds, would be moving onto final designs,” she said. PennDOT decided to acquire the property through eminent domain after negotiations with Nardo stalled, according to Waters-Trasatt. “We couldn’t reach an agreed upon sales amount with the owner,” she said. “We [now] have the legal title to the property … and we, associated with that, have offered $1.87 million
News & happenings for Middletown and surrounding areas.
Early deadlines
In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, the Press And Journal office will be closed Monday, May 27. For the May 29 edition of the Press And Journal, the deadline with be Friday, May 24: classified ads, 9 a.m.; public notices, 10 a.m., and yard sales, noon. •••••
Middletown Area Historical Society meeting
The Middletown Area Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 at Riverside Chapel, 630 S. Union St., Middletown. •••••
Blue & Gold Club raffle winners
The winners of the Blue & Gold raffle held on Sunday, May 19 are: Casper Voithofer, Middletown; Betty Heddy, Middletown; John Scudder, Shiremanstown; JoAnn McGraw, Harrisburg; and Jacob Burger, Middletown. The club wishes to thank everyone who participated in this year’s raffle. Proceeds from the raffle are used to support the student-related and athletic programs within the Middletown Area School District. •••••
Bingo blast
Hummelstown Fire Company, 249 E. Main St., is sponsoring a bingo blast at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. Doors open at 5 p.m. •••••
Mount Gretna Bible Festival
The Summer at the Tabernacle Mt. Gretna Bible Festival begins Sunday, May 26 and runs through Sunday August 25. All events are held at the historic tabernacle. For a complete schedule, readers may visit www.MtGretnaTabernacle. org, or call 717-813-5319 or 717-371-1725. •••••
Motorcycle breakfast
Lower Swatara Fire Dept., 1350 Fulling Mill Rd., Middletown, is holding a Motorcycle Summer Breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 26, rain or shine. For more details, readers may visit www.lowerswatarafire.com. •••••
Area High School in 1992. Carnes, who is also head coach of the varsity baseball team, said he is looking forward to his “continued work with great kids.” And while there will be challenges many districts are facing, Carnes has a lot of support. “[We have to] do more with less, raise the stakes, continue to raise student achievement,” said Carnes. “ Superintendent Lori Suski said Carnes is “the right man to lead the high school.” “We are behind you 150 percent,” she told Carnes, as other board members congratulated him. Noelle Barrett: 717-944-4628, or noellebarrett@pressandjournal.com
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Town Topics
in just compensation.” Nardo, who has 30 days to challenge to the eminent domain claim, did not return phone calls seeking comment. The project has been delayed from its original target completion date of late 2013. PennDOT is expecting to begin construction in about two years, and plans to complete the project within four years, Waters-Trasatt said. Daniel Walmer: 717-944-4628, or danielwalmer@pressandjournal. com
Middletown Cemetery Association meeting
The annual meeting for stockholders of the Middletown Cemetery Association will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 at the Masonic Lodge, 131 W. Emaus St., Middletown. •••••
Memorial Day holiday collection
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, all regular Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one day for the entire week. •••••
New director
The public is invited to attend a reception to meet Stacey Mulligan, the new director of the Middletown Public Library, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 at the library, 20 N. Catherine St., Middletown.