Last night’s  Columbia Borough School District meeting audience of 40 or so (counted) were treated to a slide presentation of the district’s assessment of the 2011-2012 budget. During the meeting which began at 7:05 pm, the audience learned the following:

• There was no printed agenda for the attendees, but Dr. Barry W. Clippinger, the district superintendent, began with a Power Point presentation that listed the revenue budget of just over $20 million and a revamped expense budget about $600,000 more than anticipated revenues. The “local” revenues (read that property taxes, etc.) is expected to provide around $9.7 million; the, yet unknown, state and federal slices of that pie are projected to make up the balance of the revenue budget. But, those numbers are not known yet.
• Dr. Clippinger stated that all Columbia Borough School District (administrative, support and educator) staffs had agreed to a wage freeze. [NOTE: The Pennsylvania School Boards Association maintains a Web page with a listing of school entities known to have adopted a wage freeze for 2011-12 budget.]
• He stated that there will be no replacements for teacher retirements or attrition.
• If needed, there is the potential to borrow against “reserve budgets” to close the expense:revenue gap.
• There will be no real estate tax increase for this budget.
• The State Gaming funds (Property Tax Reduction Allocation) return (in the form of homestead/farmstead tax assistance) is similar to previous years; $284.88 per homestead/farmstead.

School Board president, Tom Strickler, made other comments during an oral presentation. Following his commentary, several citizens in the audience posed some questions which led to these acknowledgements from Strickler:

• When asked about administrative position consolidation, he said that positions have been compressed and there are two principals and one assistant superintendent who will be holding an additional position of principal.
• When asked about declining student enrollment and reduced teacher positions, he stated that the average class size range is 22 to 25. He stated that reductions in teacher positions would be managed by attrition.
• He stated that Columbia will have its own “cyber-school” next year.
• When asked about the prospect of educational system consolidation, he stated that he has “approached more than one school district and that no one is interested” (in consolidation or merger) at this time.
• When asked about an alleged or rumored issue of some building materials “finding their way to someone’s camp in the mountains,” he asked for specifics. He stated that he cannot respond to “allegations” without proof. 
• He stated that the budget would be finalized by mid- to late June.
• He announced that the District is actively seeking citizen input to become members of citizen committees and study groups  and asked that citizens go to the School’s Website and sign up to receive informational emails. See the graphic below to find how to sign up.