BY PAT FARNELLI
Correspondent

The Elk Lake School Board gave the go-ahead to district administrators to borrow money for the district if it is needed before a state budget is passed.

“We still don’t have a state budget,” said school board president Anne Teel, and noted that other districts are making statements that they can survive until November without funding provided by the new budget, but may have to close if the budget impasse is prolonged.

“Cyber charter schools were supposed to be getting funds from casinos,” Teel said. She said that she sent letters and emails to legislators asking why cyber and charter schools were getting funds while public school funding was held up by the budget impasse.

“Eventually, the funds were blocked from being sent to the cyber and charter schools, but it took the Pennsylvania School Board Association’s filing of a lawsuit to stop that funding from going through,” she said. She urged local citizens to contact their legislators to call for swift passage to the state budget, and prioritizing public schools over cyber and charter schooling.

Superintendent Ken Cuomo said, “We are paying our bills, meeting our obligations, and trying to make cuts, to sustain our financial reserves as long as we can. Taxes did come in pretty well, which was a blessing.”

The agenda included the proposal: “Request to address the budget shortfall, with board permission to pay interest only on bonds, and to apply for a line of credit if (the district needs) to get a loan.”

Cuomo said, “We believe we will be okay until Jan. 1, but just in case, we are making this request. It takes about five weeks to get a loan.”

The governor said no to stop gap funding, Teel added.

The board also granted permission for the district to pay interest only on bonds.

Special Education Director Pamela Staats asked if two older computers from the special education department, both of which have touch screens, can be donated to the Jefferson Center facility. “They have some special needs students who could put the older touch screen computers to good use,” she said. “Ours have recently been upgraded.”

Cuomo voiced his support of this idea and the move was approved by the board.

Marc Weisgold, elementary principal, was given a tip that Walmart was giving away boxes of free educational materials for schools, and so he went to Walmart and was given hundreds of dollars worth of supplies from the “Stuff the Bus” program. The school supplies were given out during Parent Teacher Conference night, and were gladly received, Cuomo said.

Weisgold spoke of the Unity Day walk, and anti-bullying program organized by Lindsey Williams. “The theme was ‘Togetherness’ in the elementary school,” he explained.

The Walk for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society will be held Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-noon, in the elementary school gym.

“It is good to see the rising support in community for the 11th annual Walk for Life,” Weisgold said.

There will be refreshments and entertainment at this year’s event. Last year, over $14,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society.

A list of the 2015-16 class officers were submitted to the board, with two per grade. A list of faculty advisors for each class was also approved. A list of approved new substitutes may be viewed on Board Docs on the district website.

Available on Board Docs was a list of 12 athletic coach hires for basketball, cheerleading, and other winter sports, which was approved by the school board.

Cuomo said that the district’s gas royalty reports will be updated and posted to the Board Docs under the Treasurer’s Report.

A policy on building security – particularly keys and key fobs – was approved by board vote.

Anyone losing key fobs will be required to replace them at his or her own expense.

The board also approved fees for Right to Know request responses at 25 cents per page and 30 cents per color copy.

Rates for CDL training for school district bus drivers were raised because the district has lost money on third party testing. Cuomo said that the fee schedule has been revised and broken down into specific charges.

“Our main focus is the benefit to our own drivers,” Cuomo said.

The fall musical, “Into the 80s” will be staged Nov. 6 and 7 in the high school auditorium.