Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education met February 11, 2013, under the president. The board approved minutes and the February financial reports, then approved bills across the General, bond, activities, and food service funds. It approved the debate team's trip to the state tournament at Susquehanna University, the tax collector compensation plans for 2014-2018, the RWAN network service extension, the Nicole Falbo Memorial re-establishment, refrigerators for Brooks and Hyde, a SaltDogg hopper spreader, an updated capital reserve expenditure plan, and the second reading of Policy 913.1 on facilities naming. It accepted the Moon Area Band Parents private lesson proposal, approved staff hires and substitutes, spring coaches, a conference, and authorized a visitor badging system.

The meeting's central conflict came over the preliminary 2013-14 budget, which totaled 70,576,473 in available funds and 64,424,664 in appropriations. On a roll call vote, the motion failed 5 to 5: the president, a board member, and a board member voted in favor, while five board members voted against. The superintendent urged reconsideration, warning that rejecting the budget forfeited the referendum exception for rising pension costs and leaving the budget out by nearly 2.5 million without a tax increase. The treasurer confirmed the shortfall. The board declined a reconsideration vote.

Change orders on the middle school conversion split the board. Change Order GC3-2 passed 5 to 4, but Change Order PC-42 failed by the same margin. The board also heard committee reports covering policy revisions, legislation, and Parkway West program changes, and adjourned at 8:00 p.m.