Dr. Thomas Seidenberger, circuit rider for Pennsylvania schools, attended the Jan. 14 Salisbury Township School District meeting to update the board on fair funding for school districts.

There are 11 circuit riders who have been traveling across Pennsylvania to get a clear vision of funding needs in public schools.

Seidenberger, who has a one year contract, is responsible for schools in Carbon, Lehigh, Bucks and Berks counties– a total of 45 school districts.

Seidenberger said there are three states without a public school funding formula– Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Delaware.

"We really need to engage people at the local level - it is very important," Seidenberger said.

"We have to get behind passing a school funding formula by working with legislators and key leaders in the community."

Seidenberger said Governor-elect Tom Wolf ran his campaign on education. "It's a big issue," Seidenberger said.

The funding commission was signed into law in April 2014.

"I know exempt properties are a big issue in Salisbury," Seidenberger said. "This topic has been raised state-wide."

Dr. William Hartman of Penn State and Tim Shrom of Solanco School District compiled a 5-year fiscal projection for all school districts in Pennsylvania through 2017-2018. They said under the present situation with no changes to fiscal policies, about 50 percent of Pennsylvania school districts will not have sufficient revenues to cover mandated and necessary expenditures by the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

Results from the fourth annual PASA/PASBO report on school budgets include a survey completed by 279 school districts. Over half of the districts expected to eliminate about 370 academic programs in the 2014-2015 school year. Over one-third planned to cut, reduce or charge a fee for at least 200 extracurricular and athletic programs. Sixty-four percent planned on increased class sizes, 90 percent have reduced staff and 40 percent will have furloughed classroom teachers. About three-fourths will increase property taxes.

The circuit riders believe a new funding formula will improve local school efficiency, planning and transparency in budget development and reduce guesswork.

Seidenberger said no one knows when the final report will be given but he believes it will be in late March or April.

The next step will be a public forum which he is hoping to schedule in the Lehigh Valley.

In other business, board members were recognized for their service by Salisbury High School student representatives as January is school directors recognition month.

Each board member received a plant, a calendar, a poem and chocolate cake.

Student representatives Matthew Fainor, Hannah Kahn, Olivia King and Meghan Williams reported on activities at the high school. They showed the T-shirt worn at the school by Best Buddies participants.

The student government association at SHS will hold the annual dodgeball tournament March 19 at the school. School board directors were invited to create or join a team.

The recent SGA blood drive at the high school had 50 people registered with 40 donors.

Every Friday, Key Club members will serve food to elementary school students at the Salvation Army in Allentown for an after-school program.

On Jan. 30, Key Club members will assist at the Salisbury Middle School dance-a-thon fundraiser.

SHS is hosting a penny race at the school with all proceeds benefitting the Wounded Warriors.

Each classroom is collecting change through Jan. 31. Board members were given their own jar to collect money.

Secretary of the Board Robert Bruchak reported Salisbury had a clean 2013-2014 audit and thank- ed his staff for their hard work and dedication.

"They are the reason we had a clean audit," Bruchak said.

In personnel news, Rosemarie Brachle will retire at the end of the last day of the 2014-2015 school year. She is a part-time instructional assistant at Harry S Truman Elementary School.

Scott Bonaskiewich, full-time custodian at SHS, was granted a FMLA leave for up to 60 days of leave effective Jan. 5.

Barry Weiss, part-time learning support instructional assistant at SMS was granted a general leave of absence without pay Dec. 8, 2014 through March 6.

Mark Kappes was approved as the winter strength coach and spring strength coach for the 2014-2015 school term

The memorandum of agreement between Salisbury Township School District and the Salisbury Education Association was approved.

Allentown Public Library representative Norma A. Cusick provided a calendar of activities at the library, 1210 Hamilton St. All programs are free and open to the public. Programs include computer classes, games, films, adult book discussions, speakers and cookbook tasters. Call the library at 610-820-2400 or visit www.allentownpl.org for a schedule of activities.

The board approved a resolution of Lehigh Carbon Community College for preapproval for real estate acquisitions.

The college is in need of additional space in Allentown and Carbon County and lost out on a recent property in the Lehigh Valley due to a restriction of school districts approval before a purchase. This resolution allows the college to secure real estate in a more timely fashion.

In the first superintendent report given by Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss, he commended Future Business Leaders of America Advisor Gregory Laub and his students for their participation in the regional competition. Of the 600 students participating, Salisbury had 29 students. Fourteen students came in first place, six came in second place and three came in third place. The winning students will move on to the state competition in April.

Ziegenfuss also congratulated Sarah Reichard for her participation in District 10 Band and Carolyn Boulay for her participation in District 10 Chorus. Both band and chorus require extensive auditions.

Lehigh Carbon Intermediate Unit was recognized by an engineer from NASA for the precision machine program. The program at LCTI is now certified flight ready which is a huge honor for the school. Three Salisbury students participate in this program.

Ziegenfuss noted during his nine days as superintendent, he has closed school one day and called for two 2-hour delays. On Jan. 8 during one of the delayed starts, called the night before, 10 administrators hosted professional development during the delay.

At the end of the board meeting, Board President Russell Giordano announced he received a letter of resignation from director Robert Fischer. Board members voted to approve his resignation.

Following the meeting, Solicitor Atty. John E. Freund III said the board has 30 days to appoint a replacement for Fischer. Interested residents should contact Jennifer Kirk in the business office if they are interested in serving. The person appointed will serve through December. A replacement will be placed on the ballot during the general election.