School board prepares to review budget figures

EXETER >> Exeter School District Business Manager Anne Guydish gave a broad-brush review of the preliminary budget report during the Dec. 20 Exeter School Board meeting. Guydish mentioned there would be a detailed report for January’s meeting. She noted the increase in assessed property value for the Exeter Commons might eliminate the district’s obligation to pay toward debt services for road improvements. The July 2016 interims experienced an increase in the assessed property value by $2,560,800 due to 38 properties increasing in value. Guydish informed board members and those in attendance that Pennsylvania is on pace for a $600 million budget shortfall. Exeter’s expected funding for basic education should not go below 16.17 level.

The board is scheduled to review the pro- posed budget on Jan. 17 with a special voting meeting planned for Feb. 14 to adopt the preliminary budget.

In other school board business, members approved the second reading of revised policy 0004, titled Membership, which details the procedures of a new board director. The policy featured additional revisions to include a “school director cannot miss two consecutive voting meeting, “and the superintendent is responsible for providing documentations at assisting a school director with their expected duties.

Voting on the student representatives board committees was tabled so a discussion could include Carole Kutscher, board member, who was absent from the meeting. Other members not present were Russell Diesinger and Jim Brady.

The meeting was the first officiated by newly appointed board President David Hemberger.