Minutes - June 5, 2024 Special Voting/COW-Budget
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met Wednesday, June 5, 2024, for a Special Voting Meeting and Committee of the Whole – Budget Discussion in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 6:00p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll Call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with eight members present. Attending were Ms. Bilek, President, Mr. Snyder, Dr. Wells, Mr. Brenneman, Dr. Li, Ms. Luther, and Ms. Costanza. Dr. Sommer participated virtually and Ms. Sullivan was absent.
Also present were Mr. Whitesel, Superintendent, Dr. Palazzi, Director of Curriculum, Mrs. Prosser, Director of Special Education, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Thomas, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource/Transportation Director, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Mr. DeLattre, Mr. Keagy, Attorney Dambeck, Solicitor and representatives from WTAJ and the Altoona Mirror.
Recognitions
The board and administration recognized District 6 Class 5-A Baseball Champions.
Mr. DeLattre left the meeting at 6:15p.m.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
Additional meetings for June:
Athletic Committee
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Time: 5:00p.m.
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole (Budget Adoption)
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Time: 7:00p.m.
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
All board meeting agendas are available for public viewing (3) days prior to each meeting date on BoardDocs. BoardDocs web address is https://www.boarddocs.com/pa/hasd/Board.nsf. Interested parties should enter the public site.
On motion of Dr. Li, seconded by Dr. Sommer, the board approved items B2 and B3:
• Application and Certificate for Payment #6 to McClure Company in the amount of $281,719.60 Exhibit 1
• Per Board Policy 702, Gifts, Grants and Donations, a grant from the Blair County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees to purchase Spintronics, a resource for use in an elective course entitled "Intro to Coding with Turing Tumble": $250
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes vote and zero no votes.
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. Whitesel
On motion of Dr. Wells, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, the board approved the following curriculum updates: French 2, Business Etiquette and Intro to Web Design. These maps will then be open for this school year in order for teachers to make minor tweaks to the curriculum, such as pacing, and will come back to the Board next year for final approval. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 2
Mr. Snyder initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Sommer, Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, to approve personnel items 1 through 173 dated 5/4/2024 REV 6/4/2024 at 2:50p.m. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 3
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
Budget Discussion:
Mrs. Fiscus and Mrs. Thomas distributed updated budget information from the proposed budget to the final budget number.
Proposed budget expenditures approved in May were $57,919,293. Total adjustments of $129,303 in expenditures reduced budgeted expenses to $57,789,990. Budgeted revenues for the proposed budget were $55,194,566. There was a change in revenue from the proposed budget in Title I, II and IV totaling $52,736. These programs and grants are used to fund salary and benefits.
The board and administration discussed a savings of $40,000-$46,000 by cutting both Security Greeter positions, the Schedule C Equipment Manager position, additional cuts in the music department and the principal’s office budget.
The board took a straw vote to cut an additional $40,000 in cuts presented, with six yes and two no votes. Mr. Brenneman and Dr. Sommer cast the dissenting votes. The $40,000 will include the purchase of a license camera for the Senior High Security Guard shack.
The administration will prepare a final budget in 3 formats (No tax increase, Full Act 1 tax increase and ½ Act 1 tax increase) for the June 19, 2024 Voting Meeting.
New Business
Dr. Wells attended an informational session on the Keystone Challenge Academy Program for students who are challenged in classroom settings or have had minor legal problems. He described the program in details and suggested that the program director attend a future meeting to present information to the board.
Ms. Bilek spoke to the board about the Dave Ramsey Program, a financial budgeting/competency opportunity for high school students.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 7:46p.m.
Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary