[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6606612,"mediaKeyId","2963460-26b5376a50a40aacaf54d35dddb4b72d","parentId",2963460,"title","Board approves first‑responder student organization, METS cafeteria contract renewal and multiple operational items","audioSeconds",568,"startMs",1361000,"endMs",1929000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963460-26b5376a50a40aacaf54d35dddb4b72d&start=1361&end=1929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963460-26b5376a50a40aacaf54d35dddb4b72d/thumbnail_1361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606612/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-firstresponder-student-organization-METS-cafeteria-contract-renewal-and-multiple-operational-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606612-5950d2e720f2e659071027b19b3747f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161159&Signature=TsVMOYo5VqF9UMWXnEy6DgnI5uxT1q8fWvJy4MxwnuD-rpmnEvO0vjz9AgbxxEI9scKDX2qEumobwTwDKkNvKBoWqkFe6K0Vm6w5vlMa7-hq2XB8Poynb8YL-2dMFuUA0x3dEXXBlqWn9RXBgHMOsv21OLXnrT3~EKXMYmNge5C9JRt3~ebAuEIKD6QjiM8grF4rDgDfDv5SjHZTeE1vUXr~nUWmfbtHgandgejLUiq2aZ8deM-HtVSi6NvPN4P0gK~Qy9H3csunB2ZVi-PChk9IfO4JHmPkPbR8YmU8ihX013nKHNido1GoHo4yC1fzHnvj~MHkpZMbvGpeBV-v0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tunkhannock Area School District","date","2025-04-11T07:17:06.39Z","article","The Tunkhannock Area School District Board of Directors approved a package of operational and contract items on April 10, including the creation of a high‑school first‑responders student organization, a renewal of the district's culinary management contract, and several maintenance and service contracts.

Board members approved the high‑school first‑responders club, which staff described as a school organization that will offer students training and the opportunity to earn first‑responder certifications in partnership with local emergency services. Board members said the program could help address a county‑wide shortfall in volunteer emergency personnel.

The board also renewed the METS culinary management contract for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The renewal includes a guaranteed profit to the district cafeteria account of $433,071.93. District staff clarified that guaranteed funds from METS are restricted to the cafeteria (cafeteria account/CAF) and cannot be transferred into the district's general fund.

Other items approved during the meeting included:

- Bus and van contracts (approved).
- Two payment applications to Scranton Electric Heating and Cooling Service (payments 11 and 12) (approved).
- A budget transfer to cover remaining HVAC project costs at the high school and intermediate center (approved).
- A summer abatement project to remove asbestos floor tiles in selected rooms, awarded to Datum Products for $19,985; staff noted the work targets undamaged tiles while students are off campus (approved).
- A five‑year renewal agreement with the Burke Center (approved).
- A student settlement agreement for student number 5643963736 (approved).
- Renewal of the royalty agreement with OhioPile for merchandise use of district logos; the district reported the arrangement yields a $1,000 scholarship fund (approved).
- Donation of iPads to the Intermediate Center and STEM Center by the IC & STEM PTO (approved).

Several items were presented as routine approvals and were passed without substantive debate, including approval of minutes, business and finance reports, conference attendance, and updates to board policies (legal updates and Title IX policy revisions were noted by staff as the reason for the policy updates).

What the board said and clarified: district staff and board members emphasized that METS's guaranteed profit is restricted to cafeteria uses only. On the abatement project staff reiterated that undamaged asbestos tiles are not an immediate hazard but that removal when students are out of the building reduces future risk.

Public comment at the meeting included tributes to the late longtime director Lori Bennett and remarks from residents and students. A resident, Michael Lacey, and a student, Zachary McBain, made public comments; McBain spoke in support of a staff member and credited that staff member with mentoring and fundraising work in the school.

Ending: The approvals completed routine district business and cleared several facility and administrative tasks ahead of summer work; the board's larger budget discussion, including the preliminary 1-mill vote, will guide decisions on any future program or staffing changes referenced by staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TASD School Board Meeting April 10th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 10 meeting the Tunkhannock Area SD board approved a slate of operational items, including a new high‑school first‑responders club, a one‑year renewal with METS that guarantees $433,071.93 profit for cafeteria operations, bus and van contracts, a $19,985 abatement project and other routine approvals.","taxTitle","Tunkhannock Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",55241,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606617,"Tunkhannock Area SD approves preliminary 1-mil increase as board considers 2025–26 budget options",2481,2153000,4634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963460-26b5376a50a40aacaf54d35dddb4b72d&start=2153&end=4634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963460-26b5376a50a40aacaf54d35dddb4b72d/thumbnail_2153000.jpg","/articles/6606617/Pennsylvania/Tunkhannock-Area-SD-approves-preliminary-1-mil-increase-as-board-considers-202526-budget-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606617-754efd33ba5d73f2f051c0d57fa84e54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161159&Signature=R6nb6dBKEecLqVT4NVpeTHe~Ii3aXwc7Rx7uvFt1VFP8sBTFUcID-P~RnkCOfHQUWDS8SX9lPVaZjhHx24C~f-U76iNbG56xb7QoMmADPUA~B9fd5meIveZ7PxpOPc4To8T0Rk1hiKOdsWjcIECuF1aPsZHSZfxoEFPYg4Vti~n2oXKXfOG7E3LfpWSHUAGCECA6On1qyfUKbp069I1oEdSLNDDokhAg6m1OoFtHegBznAGLCMg6NsEHT950kikN47I~yQTsNyoQ8SDeJGwQrB8QWMxoCj3RV54~2mN3loNLXqtRSstd8ej~AWCPcVUhj-zhXptbpbNM4bjqetL3qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tunkhannock Area School District Board of Directors voted on April 10 to advance a preliminary budget option that would raise property taxes by 1 mill as it considers four proposed budgets for 2025–26.

Paul (staff member), who presented the district's budget outlook, told the board that \"a proposed budget deficit would be just over $3 million\" if the district adopted a 0-mill option and that the board was considering four scenarios: 0 mil, 1 mil, 2 mil and the Act 1 index maximum of 3.984 mills. He said the board must select one of those options for advertisement under Pennsylvania Department of Education timelines, with a final budget expected in June.

The presentation outlined the district's largest cost drivers: wages (about 41% of the budget, roughly $22 million), benefits (about 31% and subject to a reported 16% health insurance increase), transportation and utilities (utilities reported above $1 million). The presenter said expiring federal ESSER funds reduce available revenue by roughly $3 million, and that the district is carrying a roughly $900,000 deficit from the previous year into the 2025–26 calculations. He also reported the district's fund balance at about $14.4 million, earmarked for future capital needs.

Why it matters: the board faces a choice between using local tax increases, drawing on fund balance, or making programmatic and staffing reductions. The superintendent and board members repeatedly said they want to avoid using long-term reserves for day-to-day operating costs.

Key figures and options presented by district staff: a 0-mill budget would leave an estimated shortfall of about $3,027,000; a 1-mill option reduces the shortfall to about $2,739,000; a 2-mill option to about $2,452,000; and the 3.984-mill (Act 1 maximum for the district) option to about $1,880,000. The district reported a tax collection rate of roughly 93%, and that one mill is roughly $287,881 in revenue for the district.

The presentation also called out two items the board may pursue to narrow the gap. First, the district continues to examine a proposed solar project estimated at about $10 million that staff said could cut annual electric costs by roughly $1 million if federal and state incentives are available; the availability of those rebates and grants was described as uncertain. Second, district staff highlighted cyber‑charter tuition as a major cost: a typical general‑education cyber student from the district currently costs about $17,000 and a special‑education cyber placement roughly $34,000; a proposed state flat rate of $8,000 per general‑education cyber student in some proposals could save the district an estimated $800,000, staff said.

Board discussion emphasized the health insurance increase and the end of ESSER funding as the principal drivers of the deficit. Mrs. Arnold (Board President) reminded the board that the vote tonight was preliminary and said the district would continue work on savings and present updated figures at the May 15 meeting; the board must adopt a final budget by June 30. Board member Bill said, \"I'll make a motion for a 1 mil increase, knowing that this is only preliminary,\" and the motion was seconded.

At roll call, the board voted to advance the 1-mill preliminary option. The roll call recorded the following responses: Doctor O'Sharaq — yes; Doctor Paribola — yes; Mister Burke — yes; Missus Eckert — yes; Mister Franco — no; Missus Goble — yes; Mister Farr — yes; Missus Arnold — yes. The motion passed on that preliminary vote.

What remains unresolved: staff said the district does not yet know final state budget outcomes (including cyber‑charter relief) and that federal funding uncertainties and negotiated contract increases could alter the final June decision. The board will receive an update at the May 15 meeting and could change course before the final adoption scheduled for June.

The board's vote tonight sets a single advertised option in compliance with PDE timelines, with the understanding that the advertised scenario is not final and that staff will continue to pursue savings, grant opportunities and feasibility studies for major capital projects such as solar.

Ending: The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for May 15, when staff will present updated budget options before a final vote targeted for June 19.","The Tunkhannock Area SD board voted to advance a preliminary 1-mill tax increase option for the 2025–26 proposed final budget after a presentation that outlined multiple budget scenarios and major cost pressures including rising health insurance, the end of ESSER funds and high cyber‑charter tuition costs.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves first‑responder student organization, METS cafeteria contract renewal and multiple operational items

Tunkhannock Area SD approves preliminary 1-mil increase as board considers 2025–26 budget options