NB School Board Informed of 2019 Surplus Due to Education Grant

The Northern Bedford School District held a school board meeting Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, the first meeting of the new year.

As part of the meeting, Jeff Koontz of Ritchey, Ritchey & Koontz, Bedford, presented the board members with audit findings for the 2018-19 school year. Koontz explained that there were “no discrepancies” found in the financials for the 2018-19 school year.

He also gave a brief explanation of some of the components of the audit. As part of this audit, it was found that the school had a surplus of $598,000, which the school board moved to transfer from the General Fund into the Capital Reserve Fund. Superintendent Todd Beatty explained that this surplus was due in part to the fact that the school was “fortunate to receive a $100,000 education grant and were not required to pay one month of our health premiums.”

However, Beatty alluded to the fact that the school is still facing potentially difficult times ahead financially as the state legislature “continues to fail in passing common-sense legislation that would fix the cyber school cost debacle.”

The superintendent discussed the fact that the district is considering a number of major projects over the next four to five years. These projects will include the replacement of the high school/middle school windows, the repair and replacement of the elementary building’s roof, the repair or replacement of the floor tile in the high school/middle school, and improvements to the auditorium.

These projects could total more than $2.2 million, Beatty said. He also said that because of the school’s current financial situation and the projection of continued financial worries, “it will be difficult for the board to not strongly consider some level of increase in taxes to compensate for additional expenses.”

Board recognized

Superintendent Beatty took a few minutes to recognize the “hard work and commitment” displayed by the Northern Bedford School District board, with January being “school board recognition month.”

Beatty explained that “it is important for the public to know that the people that make up a local school board have a significant impact on school operations running smoothly. The members of this board take their position very seriously and work collectively with each other and the superintendent to provide our students with quality opportunities in education, school activities, and career information while remaining fiscally conscious.”

It was noted that on Jan. 28, 2020, there would be a board recognition meal to be provided by Mrs. Betts’ class. This banquet will be followed by a board retreat in which the attendees will be discussing the status of the district currently and over the next year.

Board actions

The board also voted to approve the issuing of interim tax bills by the Bedford County Assessment Office. This bill would cover 2019 improvements that were not billed in the July 2019 tax bills. The value of these bills would be $1,725,000, bringing the total interim real estate revenue up to $14,793, set by the current millage rate of 8.5759.

The board approved the acceptance of an IDEA-B grant. The money received from this grant will provide funds for a two-year program targeting dyslexia and promoting early literacy.

The board also voted to approve a trip planned for this year’s senior class. The proposed trip will have the senior class traveling to Williamsburg, Va., from May 17-19, 2020.

Those who choose to take this class trip will stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, spending time at the waterpark there and a day at Busch Gardens.

Fundraisers were approved for the senior class to be able to afford the trip. It was noted that the trip taking place will depend upon the level of interest from the students themselves.

Recognition

Elementary school Principal Trevor Replogle recognized the “tremendous student commitment to community service.” He stated that in December students collected coats, hats, and gloves in cooperation with the high school Student Council’s coat drive. The total collection for all three schools came to more than 470 coats. Of those, 270 coats were donated by the elementary students.

Principal Replogle also discussed his appreciation for local organizations for their involvement with his students. He acknowledged the Rotary Club for donating dictionaries to third-grade students. The Cove Community Club provided the preschool and kindergarten classes with a chance to visit with Santa Clause and a small gift for each child and a snack of cookies and milk. Most recent, the Martinsburg VFW Auxiliary hosted a flag etiquette program for the third-grade students.

Middle school

For the middle school, Principal Wayne Sherlock recognized the students of the month for December. Those students included: Caitlyn Houp and Dyllan Keller, 6th grade; Abby Bowser and Dhylan Miller, 7th grade; and Cheryl Martin and Brock Beach, 8th grade.

Principal Sherlock also stated that the 8th grade students will be taking part in a job-shadowing day. This day will take place Friday, Jan. 31.

Sherlock explained that the event is a “valuable learning experience for our students. They are able to observe firsthand the day-to-day activities for the occupation they choose to shadow.”

High school

High school Principal Michael O’Dellick reported on the achievements of students who participated in the recent FBLA competitions which took place on Dec. 6, 2019. This competition was FBLA’s Regional Leadership Conference and was held at St. Francis where NBC students took part in various venues.

Of the 47 members who took part in this competition, thirty students qualified to continue on to the State Leadership Conference which will be held April 6-8 in Hershey.

Students who qualified to continue to the next level of competition with first-place finishes in the individual competitions include: Abby Fink, political science; Makayla Hall, business law; Nathanael Helsel introduction to business; Ashleigh Hutton, client service; Colby Imler, future business leader; Emilee Koontz, introduction to public speaking; Kianah Lingenfelter, accounting I; Stephanie Runyon, accounting II; Eric Smith, advertising; and Mary Stenning, agribusiness.

Students who qualified with a second-place finish in the individual competitions included: Deerin Davis, introduction to business; Brodi Dietz, networking concepts; Lacey Fleck, job interview; Ella Gable, graphic design; Nickalas Garner, help desk; Gretchen Keith, business calculations; Cameron Newswanger, business law; Morgan Robison, organizational leadership; and Allie Snider, business communications.

Third-place finishers included: Hailey Bollman, introduction to business procedures; and Brooke Gochnour, agribusiness.

In the team competitions, the following teams earned second-place finishes: Global Business, Alexis Bollman and Andrea Musselman; Management Decision-Making, Syndey Coffey, Aylissa Morral, and Paide Snider; Emerging Business Issues, Matt Hall, Ian Sherlock, and Joshua Strayer; and Introduction to Business Presentation, Aaron Reynolds and Jacob Sensenig.

Principal O’Dellick also discussed that Keystone Local Assessment re-tests are currently being administered to seniors who did not score proficiently on the Keystone Exams.

These exams are a factor in determining students’ eligibility for graduation. O’Dellick said that underclassmen who showed signs of deficiencies in the Spring Keystone Exam were given additional instruction to prepare them for the Winter Keystone Exam, which is currently being administered.

O’Dellick expressed support for the 10 students who will be taking part in the district Band Festival to be held at Everett High School Feb. 12-14. Those students participating include Abigail Fink, Contra-alto clarinet; Bailey Koontz, tenor saxophone; Allyson Ritchey, euphonium; Gabby Miller, piccolo and flute; Josh Strayer, snare drum and percussion; Lainee Sensenig, clarinet; Abby Mickle, cornet; Jay Reed, tuba; Cameron Clark, trombone; and Ren Bowman, cornet.

Three high school students also competed in the recent district Chorus Festival that was held at Forest Hills High School Jan. 15-17. Those students included Bethany Shawley soprano; Gretchen Keith, alto; and Matthew Hall, tenor.

At the time of the board’s meeting, results of this competition were not known. However, students who finished well would have the opportunity to qualify for Regional Chorus set for later this year.