School tax hike proposed
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

The Greencastle-Antrim school board received an overview of the proposed 2007-2008 general fund budget at last week's meeting.

Business manager Richard Lipella said the budget would increase eight percent to a ceiling expenditure of $30.9 million. Personnel accounted for 51 percent of expenses, benefits 21 percent, and professional services five percent.

The school district anticipates 33 percent of the revenue will come from the state, 66 percent locally, and two percent from federal sources.

Lipella proposed a 3.5 mill increase, with the result of an additional $589,750 for the district. The real estate tax rate would increase from 85.4 mills to 88.9 mills. He said the average cost per resident would be $65 in the borough and $69 in the township.

Administrators have recommended hiring an additional kindergarten teacher and a special education teacher. The two positions at $65,000 each would account for .8 mill of the increase.

The breakdown for the additional tax increase was technology .6 mill, special education 1.06 mills, and other expenses 1.04 mills.

Enrollment has leveled off, said Lipella, and the district has not reached expected growth. The number of students increased 10 percent over the last five years.

The commercial base has presented a $450,000 loss to the district because of assessment appeals.

The school board raised taxes two mills in 2002, five in 2003, 2.5 in 2004, 3.1 in 2005, and four in 2006.

The budget will be discussed at the May 10 and 24 board meetings and adopted June 7.

Athletic director

Vicki Ritchey was hired as high school/middle school athletic director for a second year. Seven teachers, locally and from other districts, had also applied for the position, some with athletic director experience. Three people were interviewed.

Ritchey, who does not have a teaching degree, is the only director in the state of Pennsylvania without that certification. Tom Dracz, president of the Greencastle-Antrim Education Association, had submitted a letter to the board stating the organization's stance that a teacher should be hired.

"We feel a teacher can better relate to the staff and coaches," said Dracz. "We see it as a faculty position."

Board member Howard Ritchey asked if there was a legal requirement on the hiring. Substitute superintendent Greg Hoover said no, according to Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations.

"We agree with that position," said board president Dan Fisher. "The administration brought us a name for a vote. Maybe we've got a special case here in that we've got a Vicki Ritchey."

Her salary was set at $36,400.

Students expelled

The board met in executive session to discuss two students who had handled a knife at a track meet April 12. They were expelled due to the school's zero tolerance policy toward weapons on school property.

An eighth-grade boy showed a knife to other students, and then gave it to a ninth-grade boy who also showed it to others. The other students reported the incident to adults. No one was threatened or injured. The 14-and 15-year old boys were spectators at the meet.

The knife was similar to a short switchblade, but the blade was missing by the time police investigated, according to Hoover.

The youth were expelled and placed at Manito. As part of the social probation, they cannot participate in extracurricular activities for the balance of the school year. They could return to GASD next year.

In other business, the board approved a child-rearing leave of absence for Ruthann Hull, primary and elementary music teacher, effective May 21 through the 2007-2008 school year.