NB Audit for 2023-24 Completed

Northern Bedford County School District’s Superintendent, Todd Beatty, announced at January’s board of directors meeting that a local auditor has completed the audit for the 2023-24 school.

“Northern Bedford has been very conservative in the budgeting process, unfortunately, increased costs have outpaced revenue,” he said.

The 23-24 budget year closed at about $125,000 in the black. This number has been reduced over the years.

“Unfortunately, our state legislative body continues to fail public brick and mortar schools because they have not been able to pass common-sense legislation that would fix the cyber school debacle,” Beatty said.

Due to the financial circumstances, he said it would be difficult for the board not to strongly consider increasing taxes to compensate for the additional expenses. 

Beatty said the cost of cyber school, special education, materials, equipment, and shipping have all increased.

The board approved the resolution not to raise taxes above the 5.5% index for the 2025/26 budget. 

The audit presentation for 2023/24 by Jeff Koontz of Ritchey, Ritchey, and Koontz had no audit findings and found NBC to be operating a school district as it is supposed to. 

The audit was approved by the board. 

The resignation of Kathleen Lingenfelter and Jennie Hetzer as special education teachers was accepted by the board. 

Guyer Brothers, the only bidder for the lining of the sewage line from NBC Elementary to the South Woodbury main line in the amount of $95,165 was approved.

This project is part of the DCED Public Facility Grant in which the district is responsible for 25% of this project. It will be paid through the general fund. 

Modern Art & Plate Glass Co. Inc. was approved for the elementary window replacement project for $534,650. This is also part of the DCED Public Facility Grant and the district is also responsible for 25% of this project. 

Link Computer Corp. & Assurance Media LLC was approved for Phase 1 of the door access project. This will provide renewed electrification of the elementary, middle, and high school doors as well as the additional doors for the Wellness Center for $64,682. 

This project is partially funded by the PCCD Mental Health Grant. The local commitment is $7,967.

At NBC Elementary School, fifth-grade students performed the Christmas Extravaganza concert for students and the public in the middle school/high school auditorium on December 10. The grades 4 and 5 chorus also performed during the concert. 

A representative from the Home Nursing Agency Foundation’s Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program provided an annual presentation to the eighth-grade students. This lesson was designed to help students understand the types of feelings that can develop when experiencing loss and to learn skills on how to cope with those emotions. 

About 31 middle school students worked together for several performances of “ A Charlie Brown Christmas “ over the 2024 holiday season. Performances were given to students, staff, and the public. 

On January 2-3, 28 students in grades 7-12 participated in the Bedford County Junior and Senior High Band Ensembles at Tussey Mountain High School. Both ensembles were made up of musicians from throughout the county. 

Varsity girls’ wrestling continued to grow as the team competed in the ICC Tournament, taking second place. Emily Dennis, Kyanna Hall, Ava Helsel, Yasmin Miller, and Raegan Snider won first place. 

Snider was named outstanding wrestler. Myah Dixon took third place. The team also had six-place winners at the Curwensville tournament on January 4. On January 17 and 18, the team went to the Coal Cracker Tournament in Jim Thorpe.