Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

UNION TWP. —If the Northwest Area School Board enacts a real estate tax increase in its 2017-18 fiscal budget, it won’t be more than the state-mandated index.

The school board passed a resolution Wednesday night stating that any increase will not exceed its the state Department of Education index of 3.4 percent.

According to Michael Kreidler, board chairman, there is no comment about taxation at this point although he did say preliminary work on the budget has begun. In 2016-17, the board enacted a budget of $18.4 million, increasing real estate taxes to 10.5848 mills. A mill is $1 of tax on every $1,000 of assessed value.

Randy Tomasacci, past board chairman, pointed out that taxes have actually been increased at the index level for the past 5 years. He added, however, there is no sentiment on his part to impose another hike.

Tomasacci also used the meeting to lash out at reports of Northwest lagging in state achievement test results. He said that Northwest actually ranks No. 3 in Luzerne County.

“The testing doesn’t portray accurately the academic performance of Northwest’s students and teachers,” he said. “Our students perform well, and our teachers do a great job.”

At the same time, Northwest officials continue to find that financing state-authorized cyber charter schools remains a major drain on their treasury. The accounting records for January list major outlays for these online schools of $14,440 to Agora Cyber Charter School, $7,735 to Pa. Cyber Charter School and $10,285 to Reach Cyber Charter, and $11,440 payment to Agora in December. The board also remitted $8,194 to Bear Creek Charter Elementary School.

In other agenda items:

•Betsy Ellis, director of district operations, reported that work has been completed on the field house — which is now known as the Ranger Athletic Center — and activities in all sports are being conducted there.

•The board moved unanimously to rehire head coaches for fall sports, including Lon Hazlett, football; Brian Barchak, cross-country; and Ashley Lawson, girls field hockey.

•Ellis also commented that efforts are continuing to secure donations for the purpose of designating Northwest’s facilities as the Ron Powlus Athletic Center. She said, through e-mail appeals, $1,000 has been secured thus far. She said the goal is $13,000. The late Ron Powlus was an administrator, coach and teacher at Northwest. His son of the same name, Ron Powlus, is nationally-known as a quarterback at Berwick High School and Notre Dame University.

•Brian Mills, elementary principal, was authorized to lead a delegation of Northwest teachers and administrators to Hydetown in February to review and observe a new teaching program that he called “Math Customized Learning.”

•In another fiscal matter, the board approved the transfer of $80,483 from the capital projects fund to meet expenses at the field house and athletic fields and pay for the installation of wi-fi systems.

•Director Leigh Bonczewski was commended by Ellis for helping to secure the donation of furniture and desks for the Ranger Athletic Center.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Northwest.jpg.optimal.jpg

By Tom Huntington

For Times Leader

Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.