School board disciplines student, caps tax increase
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

A male student brought a portion of a paintball gun to school Oct. 29 and openly displayed it to his fellow paintball enthusiasts in a classroom. Though it was only the handle end and could not be fired, it violated the Greencastle Antrim School District policy prohibiting weapons on campus.

The sophomore was suspended pending a ruling by the school board. At its Nov. 15 meeting, the board voted that the punishment would be 10 days suspension and 15 hours of community service. The student has already returned to regular classes.

Director of Secondary Education Bob Crider said the student was 'a great kid' with above average grades, no other problems in school and had no intent.

"He thought nothing was wrong with what he was doing," said Crider. "It couldn't fire but it looked like a gun."

He added that acting superintendent Greg Hoover used extenuating circumstances to determine the appropriate penalty. The student handbook says possession of a weapon capable of inflicting serious bodily injury results in an immediate expulsion of no less than one year.

"This device couldn't do any harm," Crider said.

No discussion necessary

Board president Dan Fisher asked for a motion to apply to the state of Pennsylvania for acceptance into the Common Cents Initiative. The grant would result in a consultant studying 11 service areas of the school system. Recommendations on ways to save money would be nonbinding. Any money saved would have to be used for academic purposes.

Charles McClain made the motion. No one else spoke.

Someone asked if they should discuss it.

Fisher said, "It doesn't sound like we need a discussion. We can take it off the agenda."

Arnie Jansen said the school district would not be giving away rights by looking into purchasing supplies with other school districts, the main component of Common Cents. He thought the district was missing opportunities by eliminating the possibility of the grant. He suggested one area to combine forces could be in contracting for snow removal.

Fisher added that sharing big budget items with other districts could work without taking away G-ASD's identity.

The motion died for lack of a second.

Other business

Julie Brookens was hired as long term sub for seventhgrade Language Arts.

The board created the new position of clerk-personnel in the business office. Rosemary Izer was transferred from elementary cafeteria cashier to district clerk-personnel with no change in hourly rate of pay.

The board passed a resolution not to increase the 2008/2009 real estate tax rate above the index as stipulated by Act 1. The index is 5.4 percent of the current mill rate, which is 88.9 mills. Therefore, the board will not raise taxes over 4.8 mills for the next school year. The board raised taxes 3.5 mills in June for the 2007/2008 school year.