SCHOOLS Wilmington district decides against participation in Act 72

School officials don't want to be involved in revenue collected from gambling.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Wilmington Area School District has decided not to participate in Act 72, which would lower school property taxes through slot machine revenues.
School officials believe they are the first district in Lawrence County to turn down participation in Act 72.
The deadline for the state's 501 public school districts to make a decision on whether to be involved in the state program is May 30.
The Ellwood City and New Castle Area School Districts recently chose to participate in Act 72.
In a written statement, Superintendent Dr. C. Joyce Nicksick said the decision was not reached quickly. The administration and board members participated in seven informational sessions dealing with Act 72 along with three informational meetings for district residents.
Nicksick said the district decided not to be involved in a program that uses gambling revenue to fund public education.
She said the district also believes that Act 72 does not address educational needs or programming. School officials also did not want to increase the earned income tax by 0.1 percent, as required by Act 72.
Nicksick said that Act 72 is not in the best interest of the pupils or taxpayers.
Financial growth
In other action this week, the board approved the tentative 2005-06 school-year budget.
The $16 million budget is a 4.23 percent increase from last year.
Nicksick said the board would continue to reduce expenditures before determining if millage will be increased.
She said increases in the state retirement pension fund, special education expenses, fuel costs, higher utilities, Cyber School tuition and textbooks have all contributed to the larger budget.
Wilmington currently has 16 students enrolled in the Cyber School education, which is an expense to the district.
In other business, the district has some large shoes to fill. The board approved a retirement incentive plan for the food service director, business manager/board secretary, and the supervisor of building and grounds.
Food service director Sandra Houlette accepted the offer after 34 years in the district, as did Nancy DeWoody, who has 32 years at Wilmington as business manager/board secretary.
Also accepting early-incentive retirement were: Diane Sevachko, assistant cook; Dianalee Murphy, cafeteria charge person; Beverly Seergae, middle school teacher; and Virginia Lauer, gifted teacher.
The board also accepted the resignation of high school teacher James Grunenwald as athletic director, high school student council adviser, golf coach and audio-video supervisor. His teacher retirement had already been accepted by the board.
The board filled the athletic director position by appointing Scott Brush at a salary of $6,000 a year.
Brush is the high school social studies/driver's education teacher and is president of the Wilmington Area Education Association.