CLEARFIELD- As of Monday night, it has now been 84 days since the deadline for the General Assembly and Governor Josh Shapiro to come to an agreement regarding the state budget.
During the meeting of the Clearfield Area School Board Monday, Superintendent Terry Struble said that while the district is still able to hold out without taking a tax anticipation loan, it’s not something that they can continue indefinitely.
Business Manager Sam Maney agreed with Struble, adding that the district has adequate reserves and income from taxes to continue to meet payroll and stay current with bills, but the matter is putting a strain on the Commonwealth as a whole, and the area in particular, as many districts are having to make extremely hard decisions to meet their financial obligations.
Staff gave updates on how the first month of the new school year has progressed with remarks about how the new faculty and mentors have really tackled their positions with positivity.
A parent spoke to the board about how staff at the Junior/Senior High School and Clearfield County Career and Technology Center worked hard with her son to overcome a difficult period in his life and focus on making a career in IT.
The board also learned about some opportunities for students in the upcoming weeks.
Representatives of Clearfield-Jefferson Suicide Prevention are coming to the school to set up outside the cafeteria and talk with students voluntarily.
Students in grade 10 will also have an opportunity to “interact” with a tractor-trailer and learn how best to share the road with these necessary machines. They’ll be shown “no zones” to avoid and get the opportunity to sit inside one and see just how limited a field of view a truck driver has.
Under new business, the board approved settlement of the appeal filed to Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 5.
The building on Leonard Street is used primarily for education and the IBEW appealed their tax status with the district, county and township. Since only 95 percent of the building is used for educational purposes, the entities agreed that the remaining five percent will be taxable.
The board also approved a memorandum of understanding between the district and Clearfield Education Association to add a coaching position to girls wrestling and add a junior high softball program provided interest still remains.
