SCHOOL BOARD Insurance costs district less money

HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Hermitage School District will spend less than anticipated for insurance this year.
Business Manager Monique Barber told the school board Monday that the district has recently received all of its final insurance information on its buildings, vehicles and workers' compensation and found that the total cost will be between $30,000 and $35,000 less than budgeted for the 2004-05 school year.
Barber said that most of those insurances came in with lower-than-anticipated increases, particularly the worker's compensation which is based on previous years' performance.
Hermitage spent $185,000 for those insurances last year and had budgeted more than $200,000 this year, Barber said, adding that the figure is now expected to come in at $174,000.
In other matters, the board approved a contract extension for the teachers union, the Hermitage Education Association, whose contract expired June 30.
Superintendent Karen Ionta said the approval is a formality as the contract automatically extends until a new contract is reached or the teachers go on strike.