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Pettisville School Income Tax Sets Record




The Pettisville Local School District 1% income tax set a record in collections during the second quarter of 2014, the district school board was told during its Monday, Sept. 8 meeting.

Chris Lee, district treasurer, told the board that for the second fiscal quarter of the year, which covers April, May, and June, the total income tax collection was $181,424.

The figure is rounded to the nearest dollar.

During the same months in 2013, Lee said the income tax generated $174,327 in revenue.

The difference is $7,097, or about 4.1%.

Lee said the increase “is good news, and shows it is going in the right direction.”

Lee also told the board that recent changes in the way agriculture property is valued could mean big changes for the permanent improvement and bond levy income, with some effect on the general fund possible, as well.

He said the income tax collection and property tax income is only “one part of our income sources,” and it remains to be seen how the overall financial picture will look after all income sources were included.

The school board agreed to a request from Lee to hold a brief meeting on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 am, to approve the permanent appropriations for the district.

Enrollment

Preliminary enrollment figures show Pettisville has 528 students, down two from last year.

The 2014-15 preliminary enrollment figure includes 202 open enrollment students, or 38% of the total enrollment at Pettisville.

Enrollment figures also show that 39 students who reside in the district attend elsewhere through open enrollment.

The board approved advancing Brian Leppelmeier on the district salary schedule from the master’s degree level to the master’s degree plus 15 hours level.

The board approved several supplemental contracts.

Kathryn Jones was named seventh grade advisor; Laura Rupp, seventh grade volleyball coach; Chelsea Schmucker, seventh grade volleyball volunteer; Tim Myers, eighth grade volleyball coach, and Donna Meller, junior class advisor.

Amy Leppelmeier and Rebecca Dorosz were awarded supplemental contracts as mentor teachers. They will mentor Amy Neiling and Kathryn Jones, who received supplemental contracts for working with their mentors.

The board accepted the resignation of John Stewart as janitor. Stewart held the post for nine years.

Close Out

School administrators were authorized to sign close-out documents on the wind turbine project.

The contractors agreed to a total reduction of $200,000 due primarily to delays in the project that resulted in loss of production and higher electric bills.

Administrators will also begin the process of closing the school building construction project with the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

While the school building is complete, the construction project was left “open,” so problems arising from building design or construction could be resolved with architects or construction contractors, before such problems became the responsibility of the school district.

The commission financed the bulk of the cost of the new school building.

A close-out visit by OSFC officials is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 29, at 1 pm.

The board reviewed portions of the Safe Routes to School project that built and replaced numerous sidewalks in town, along with other improvements.

The board discussed the new solar powered flashers on Main Street that indicate a school zone, and the crossing flashers on Co. Rd. D for the crosswalk that connects the parking area and sports field complex to the main school building.

Plans call for the installation of a handrail on the west side of the steps in that lead from the crosswalk up to the school building.

In his elementary school report, Waldvogel said that breakfast numbers are off to a good start, with 32 students signed up to eat breakfast at the school.

Waldvogel also told the board that elementary students were given Internet safety training that includes warnings about dangers that they might encounter. Older students were told about plagiarism and piracy issues that could lead to trouble for them.

All board members were present, and all votes were unanimous.

The next board meeting is Monday, Oct. 13, 7 pm, in the school conference room.– D.J. Neuenschwander



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