Claysburg-Kimmel Board Approves Purchases of New Bleachers and Lighting

The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board of Directors approved the purchases of new bleachers and lighting during its regular meeting held virtually via Zoom Jan. 13.

The new bleachers and press box at Bulldog Stadium was purchased for $439,000 from Southern Bleacher Company, based in Texas. The new bleachers and press box will replace the concrete bleachers on the home side of Bulldog Stadium.

The new lighting for the football and baseball fields at Bulldog Stadium and the varsity softball field was purchased for $495,000 from Musco Lighting, based in Iowa.

The purchases for the bleachers and lighting were through the COSTARS bid.

COSTARS is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing program for local public procurement units and state-affiliated entities. The COSTARS approach to cooperative purchasing uses the purchasing power of local entities plus the commonwealth, to obtain more competitive pricing and choice than individual purchasers might be able to obtain on their own. It also provides a more efficient and effective procurement process for COSTARS members and suppliers.

2021-22 Budget

The board approved the Act I Budget Resolution, which indicates the 2021-22 real estate millage (tax rate) will remain with the Inflation Index of 4.4

Michelle Smithmyer, the district’s business manager, said this doesn’t mean that the board won’t raise taxes.

“The resolution means real estate taxes won’t be raised about the Inflation Index,” Smithmyer said.

If the board raises real estate taxes to the full 4.4 percent, Smithmyer said it would generate approximately $120,000 for the school district.

In other business, the board approved the financial audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, as submitted by the firm of Ritchey, Ritchey & Koontz.

“Everything was good with the audit report. There were no surprises,” Smithmyer said.

The board approved a donation of $2,000 to the Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company toward the purchase of a new truck.

“The donation was a way for the board to say thank you to the fire department for all it does for the district and surrounding areas,” Smithmyer said,

The board approved Dr. Michael Hoover as the district’s dentist and the Claysburg Physician Group as the district’s physician.

Kayla Musselman and Kristen Helsel were approved as basketball volunteers.

Amanda Woodring was named as an advisor for the junior high chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America.

The board will hold its next official meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, virtually via Zoom.