From the Lockport Union Sun and Journal:
ROY-HART: District's budget figures on target with actual state aid
There will be change at the Royalton-Hartland School District as far as a playground and a board vice president are concerned, but there is no change to the adopted budget for the upcoming school year.
Roy-Hart will receive $13,331,338 in state aid, a 3.64 percent increase from the current school year. In the governor’s proposed budget earlier in the year, Roy-Hart was receiving $13,320,966 in state aid. Superintendent Paul Bona said the difference between the governor’s and the adopted state budget aid totals were so small, it wouldn’t affect the district’s adopted budget. The $10,372 would instead be saved and used if needed.“It will be part of a carry-over,” he said. “If we see a shortfall or a situation should arise, we’ll have something to fall back on.” Bona added the board did a good job creating a budget and anticipating what would happen with the state budget. The board should continue on with the budget process, Bona recommended, because there were few changes to make to the budget.“I wish I could have told you there was two, three, or four hundred thousand dollars more, but our best ‘guesstimate’ turned out to be the best,” he said. Roy-Hart’s $23.4 million budget will have a 3.89 percent increase in the tax levy, and a tax rate raise of anywhere from 81 cents to 96 cents per $1,000 of assessed land value, depending where residents live. The board election and budget vote will be held May 20.
In other Roy-Hart news, the Board of Education accepted the resignation of Vice President Susan Hughes. Hughes gave her resignation to the district clerk last week. A few board members said Hughes did a great job and would leave a hole. “She will be sadly missed,” said board member William Howell. “She was very dedicated to the job.”The board will also have two other vacant seats to fill for the 2008-09 school year.
Aside from Hughes’ departure, Margo Hall and Mary Smith are up for re-election. A petition packet for potential candidates can be picked up at the district office on 54 State St., Middleport, during normal business hours. Petitions have to be signed by at least 25 residents who are qualified voters of the Roy-Hart district, and will be received up until 5 p.m. April 21.
Bona also brought the middle school’s playground to the board’s attention. He said the playground had fallen into disrepair, and the district had to either take it out or fix it. He said it would be “in excess of $10,000 to refurbish it,” and that the playground wasn’t used by the middle school. Due to low use, Bona recommended the playground be turned into something more beneficial for the district. Howell said people might prefer to use the playground instead of going to one in Gasport. He said he remembered driving his son there a number of times, although there wasn’t a playground in Gasport at the time, and residents might rather use the middle school one. “We’re a big part of this community, and it is important to have people come out and utilize our facilities,” he said. He also raised the idea of fundraising to pay for the playground improvements. Bona said the playground would be fenced off for safety issues until the board meets again and decides what to do with it. The board will meet with the middle school Parent Teachers Association before the next board meeting. The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 23 at the high school media center.
Source: http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_102003449.html
ROY-HART: District's budget figures on target with actual state aid
There will be change at the Royalton-Hartland School District as far as a playground and a board vice president are concerned, but there is no change to the adopted budget for the upcoming school year.
Roy-Hart will receive $13,331,338 in state aid, a 3.64 percent increase from the current school year. In the governor’s proposed budget earlier in the year, Roy-Hart was receiving $13,320,966 in state aid. Superintendent Paul Bona said the difference between the governor’s and the adopted state budget aid totals were so small, it wouldn’t affect the district’s adopted budget. The $10,372 would instead be saved and used if needed.“It will be part of a carry-over,” he said. “If we see a shortfall or a situation should arise, we’ll have something to fall back on.” Bona added the board did a good job creating a budget and anticipating what would happen with the state budget. The board should continue on with the budget process, Bona recommended, because there were few changes to make to the budget.“I wish I could have told you there was two, three, or four hundred thousand dollars more, but our best ‘guesstimate’ turned out to be the best,” he said. Roy-Hart’s $23.4 million budget will have a 3.89 percent increase in the tax levy, and a tax rate raise of anywhere from 81 cents to 96 cents per $1,000 of assessed land value, depending where residents live. The board election and budget vote will be held May 20.
In other Roy-Hart news, the Board of Education accepted the resignation of Vice President Susan Hughes. Hughes gave her resignation to the district clerk last week. A few board members said Hughes did a great job and would leave a hole. “She will be sadly missed,” said board member William Howell. “She was very dedicated to the job.”The board will also have two other vacant seats to fill for the 2008-09 school year.
Aside from Hughes’ departure, Margo Hall and Mary Smith are up for re-election. A petition packet for potential candidates can be picked up at the district office on 54 State St., Middleport, during normal business hours. Petitions have to be signed by at least 25 residents who are qualified voters of the Roy-Hart district, and will be received up until 5 p.m. April 21.
Bona also brought the middle school’s playground to the board’s attention. He said the playground had fallen into disrepair, and the district had to either take it out or fix it. He said it would be “in excess of $10,000 to refurbish it,” and that the playground wasn’t used by the middle school. Due to low use, Bona recommended the playground be turned into something more beneficial for the district. Howell said people might prefer to use the playground instead of going to one in Gasport. He said he remembered driving his son there a number of times, although there wasn’t a playground in Gasport at the time, and residents might rather use the middle school one. “We’re a big part of this community, and it is important to have people come out and utilize our facilities,” he said. He also raised the idea of fundraising to pay for the playground improvements. Bona said the playground would be fenced off for safety issues until the board meets again and decides what to do with it. The board will meet with the middle school Parent Teachers Association before the next board meeting. The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 23 at the high school media center.
Source: http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_102003449.html
