The Salisbury Township School District directors, in discussing Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed 2016-2017 budget, again discussed the effect cyber and charter schools have on the school district’s budget.

Secretary of the Board and Business Administrator Robert Bruchak said $700,000 is paid out to cyber and charter schools each year with another $100,000 spent on transporting those students up to 10 miles from Salisbury’s borders.

And administrators have no idea how those students are being educated.

Bruchak said often the student leaves the school district as a regular education student at a cost of between $12,000 and $14,000 and later is changed to a special education student requiring a payment of $24,000 to $26,000 to the cyber or charter school. And the district cannot do anything about it.

Bruchak said, “Penn State researchers call the financial pressure on school districts ‘obvious and escalating,’ finding from the 2006 to 2012 school years, the statewide cost more than doubled, arriving at $1.3 billion. The main statewide subsidy for education at the same point was $5.5 billion. This is real money and taxpayers are paying for it.”

Resident Norma Cusick asked how many students are enrolled in cyber/charter schools. Bruchak said there are eight Salisbury students in cyber schools and 49 Salisbury students in charter schools.

Assistant Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten said the district sends direct mail to these families and all Salisbury cyber school students receive personal calls. In addition, Fuini-Hetten said the district is publicizing the great work being accomplished at Salisbury via the website and social media.

Bruchak said the district buses students to over 47 buildings every school day.

School districts across Pennsylvania are pushing for reform, according to Bruchak.

“Taxpayers are paying for the billboards advertising for cyber and charter schools,” School Board President Frank Frankenfield said.

In other business, board members approved the Lehigh Carbon Community College 2016-2017 Operating, Debt Service and Capital Expenditures Budget in the amount of $6,761,287. Salisbury’s portion of this budget is $214,082 which is a $415 increase over the 2015 budget.

The 2016-2017 Lehigh Career and Technical Institute budget was also approved in the amount of $25,607,300. Salisbury’s portion of this budget is $700,267.54, an increase of $40,000 due to a higher number of Salisbury students attending LCTI.

Two overnight trips were approved at the Feb. 10 meeting: an overnight extracurricular trip for the middle school and high school indoor twirlers to go to Wildwood, N.J. April 28 through May 1 for a competition and an overnight extracurricular trip for the Future Business Leaders of America students to participate in the state championship in Hershey April 10 to 13.

In personnel news, the board accepted the resignation, due to retirement, of Margaret Mann as a part-time instructional assistant at Salisbury Middle School tentatively June 14. Elyse Veil resigned as a part-time learning support instructional assistant at SMS effective Feb. 1. Andrew Cerco has been approved to transfer from a full-time emotional support teacher at Salisbury High School to a full-time social studies teacher at Salisbury High School effective upon the start day of his replacement.

Sarah Kehl was approved as a full-time emotional support teacher at SHS pending completion of requirements.

David Smith was approved as the middle school softball coach.

David Brown was approved as a volunteer football coach.Brian Bleam was approved as a volunteer boys tennis coach.

School director Mary Ziegler commended Director of Maintenance, Building and Grounds Bill Brackett and his crew for the excellent work in clearing the snow from parking areas and sidewalks after the Jan. 22-23 snowfall. Ziegler said a twirling show was held the following weekend at the high school with over 32 schools participating and 1,000 people attending. There was no issue in parking the buses, trailers and cars of those who attended.

Brackett said it took over 400 hours to move the snow which would have been double if the board had not approved new equipment for the maintenance department. Brackett’s crew also sent thanks and appreciation for the new equipment which made the job of clearing the snow easier and faster.

Bruchak reported as of Feb. 10, the state budget for 2015-2016 is 224 days behind and school district and other agencies continue to wait. Bruchak said the PlanCon reimbursement has not been appropriated in the partial budget approved in December 2015. “We may not get it this year,” Bruchak said. Bruchak built $245,000 into the 2016-2017 budget which may need to be removed.

Bruchak also reported Pennsylvania general obligation debt rating was downgraded five times by Standard & Poor’s and other agencies citing the commonwealth’s weakened fiscal position and growing pension costs.

School director George Gatanis offered the following statement regarding the state budget.

“The state government has established our deadlines for budgets but they can’t even meet their own deadlines to pass their budget,” Gatanis said. “It’s getting on my nerves.”

“If we don’t have a budget approved by June, we would have to close,” Bruchak. “Why are the legislators still being paid?”

The good news reported by Bruchak is Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation to delay the graduation requirements for two years.

Other good news reported at the meeting was the Salisbury High School debate team finished the season undefeated and number one in all competitors. Congratulations were offered to the team and the advisor.

In the superintendent’s report, Fuini-Hetten said there will be a Falcon Proud day throughout the district March 9. The next community technology workshop is scheduled for March 9 and Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss will attend the Salisbury Commissioners meeting Feb. 25.

Upcoming events include a student video/essay/poster contest on “What Does the Future of Learning Look Like?”

In Salisbury Education Foundation news, a shopping fundraiser is being planned and teachers have applied to the foundation for mini-grants.