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During a special St. Marys school board meeting Monday, Superintendent Murray Neeper said the state passed its budget, but the line items for the district have not been established yet.
One decision that was made by the state was to increase the minimum basic subsidy a district can receive by 3 percent. That would definitely affect the Johnsonburg and Ridgway Area school districts, but in the February budget proposal, St. Marys was set to receive 4.03 percent.
Neeper said he did not know if the district will receive that amount, more or less. The increase was the result of the governor's and the state Department of Education's costing-out study, which determined school districts are underfunded.
The study also recommended that the funding be projected for multiple years, but it does not seem like that will be done, Neeper said.
The district had expected a delay of the start of the Pennsylvania conservation crew, which will work on the nature trail and environmental classroom, if the budget had been delayed past today. Now that it has passed, the crew will likely begin work today, Neeper said.
After a closed meeting, the board approved $21,000 to put new tile in at Bennetts Valley Elementary School. The removal of asbestos from the school was also approved at a cost of $65,000.
Several paving projects were approved by the board. Paving will be done at the middle and high schools at a cost of $1,074,000. Paving will be done at South St. Marys Street Elementary School at a cost of $55,000.
The middle school will also have the heating and air conditioning ductwork replaced and classroom suspended ceiling and lights will be installed. The board approved $1,580,000 for that work.
The signing of a contract for paving at South St. Marys Street Elementary School and the middle and high school have been tabled until the next meeting when more information is available.
