Latest news with #StateCollegeAreaSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
State College school board member to resign. How will SCASD fill the vacancy?
A State College Area School District board member will resign later this month before moving across the country with his family. Dan Kolbe will step down from his post as a board member on June 18 as he and his family prepare to move to Chicago for work, he said. Speaking briefly before the board at Monday's meeting, the Patton Township resident said he's proud of the board's work since he received election to a four-year term in 2023. 'This decision is not an easy one, as the work we do is deeply meaningful, and it has been incredibly rewarding to work alongside such a dedicated team,' Kolbe wrote in his resignation note to the board. 'Serving on the school board has been a privilege, allowing me to engage with our talented teachers and staff, and see firsthand the positive impact they have on our community and students. As I move forward in my journey, I will continue to advocate for every child to have access to an education where they feel safe, valued and seen.' Under Pennsylvania's school code, State College's board must appoint an interim member to fill Kolbe's seat within 30 days of his resignation. The board is expected to begin accepting applications from registered voters who live in the district over a two-week period later in June, the district said. Interviews and the appointment of an interim board member would follow in early July. The interim board member who ultimately fills the vacancy will serve in that capacity until Nov. 5's general election because Kolbe served less than half of his elected term. State College's district said Centre County's Democratic and Republican parties can both nominate an additional candidate who, if elected, would fill a two-year interim term on the board that would start in December. Following Kolbe's resignation, five board seats are now up for grabs in November's election. Four candidates who cross-filed earned party nominations for full-term board positions following May's primary election.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SCASD Board of Directors Approves 2025-2026 budget with tax hike, staff additions
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Property taxes are going up for State College Area School District residents after the school board approved its 2025-2026 budget on Monday night, aiming to meet rising cost and add key staff positions. The $211.5 million final budget includes a 4% property tax increase, raising the district's millage rate by 2.0369 mills to 52.9597. For a home with the median assessed value of $74,208, that's an average increase of $147 per year. The tax hike is expected to generate most of the district's $6.6 million increase in local revenue, with 79% of total funding coming from local sources. Total revenue is projected at $207.5 million, while expenses are up 3% from last year. The district's biggest spending areas remain salaries and benefits, which make up about 74% of the budget. Mandatory contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System are up $2.1 million from the previous year, while charter school costs now account for $7.1 million, 3% of the overall budget. The board approved several key personnel additions to address growing needs. These include a special education teacher, business education teacher for a new personal finance course, school psychologist, athletics department manager, special education clerk, and a physical plant custodian. New recurring costs are also impacting the budget, including higher rates for substitutes, utilities, extracurricular security, and transportation. Cost-saving benefits from the district's Power Purchase Agreement will not impact the current budget cycle. The board also accepted the resignation of member Dan Kolbe, who is relocating to Chicago. Applications for his seat will open later this month, and a new board member will be selected in early July to serve until the November municipal election. Other board approvals included new textbooks, several employee handbooks, a suicide prevention plan, and a partnership with UPMC for an intensive outpatient program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police: State College teens charged in stolen school trucks, vape shop burglary attempt
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two teenagers are facing a list of felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly stealing school district vehicles, attempting to burglarize a downtown business, and damaging neighborhood homes with a BB gun, according to police. Norman Paul Ghaner, 18, of Boalsburg, and Cameron Mojica Goodman, 18, of Port Matilda were identified through school surveillance footage in connection to the May 17 theft of two State College Area School District trucks, according to the criminal complaint. Ghaner is currently free on $7,500 unsecured bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 28 before Magisterial District Judge Casey M. McClain, court records show. Goodman's case is listed as inactive as of May 23. According to the criminal complaint filed by State College Police, surveillance video from State College Area High School showed three males, Ghaner, Goodman, and a 16-year-old juvenile, approaching parked vehicles on the evening of May 17. The trio put on ski masks before stealing a white 2012 Ford truck and a red 2005 Ford F-450 dump truck. Ghaner was identified as the driver. The same night, the white 2012 Ford truck was seen returning to the high school, where the passenger exited, stole the red 2005 Ford F-450 dump truck, and both trucks were then driven from the scene, according to the criminal complaint. In the early morning hours of May 19, police say Ghaner and Goodman attempted to break into Smoke Valley, a vape shop on East College Avenue. According to the affidavit, the teens shattered the glass door but were unable to gain entry. The teens later parked at Mount Nittany Middle School and were seen entering another parked vehicle before fleeing the area in one of the stolen trucks. At approximately 1 a.m. that morning, a State College officer spotted the white 2012 Ford truck on Discovery Drive and attempted a traffic stop. Police say Ghaner, again identified as the driver, fled at high speed, ultimately abandoning the vehicle and running away on foot. The vehicle was left in drive, according to the complaint. Later that day, police interviewed the 16-year-old involved, who admitted to his role and identified Ghaner and Goodman as co-conspirators. He told police the group had walked from Weis Markets to the high school, took the first vehicle, and later returned to steal the second. According to the affidavit, he also confirmed the group's involvement in the attempted burglary at Smoke Valley and a separate vandalism incident involving a BB gun. Police say two homes on Logan Avenue and West Foster Avenue had windows damaged by pellets, with repairs estimated to exceed $500. A witness reported seeing a white work truck, matching the description of the stolen vehicle, fleeing the scene. Neither Ghaner nor Goodman have valid driver's licenses, and police say none of the teens had permission to operate school district vehicles. Ghaner is charged with felony theft, conspiracy, burglary, and receiving stolen property, as well as misdemeanor fleeing from police and corruption of minors. Additional summary charges include driving without a license and criminal mischief, according to court records. Goodman faces a similar set of charges. His preliminary hearing date has not been listed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SCASD moves one step closer to approving 2025-26 budget, includes tax increase
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) – State College Area School District (SCASD) is seeking a 4% tax increase, citing inflation and other costs as the reason. The district's board voted to approve the 2025-26 Proposed Final Budget, which includes a tax increase. This would make the real estate tax rate 52.9597 mills according to a press release sent out by the district. The 4% increase is equal to the district's Act 1 Index, meaning it is the maximum rate it could raise taxes by this year. Ferguson Township to host Arbor Day celebration According to Randy Brown, the finance and operations officer for SCASD, the rise in cost for personnel contracts, utility bills and security services are all contributors to the suggestion of a tax increase. This comes after the district already raised taxes last year, a move which he says did not do enough to offset the growing costs, due to 'the inflationary pressures, as well as lack of increase in real estate revenue.' The board also discussed the uncertainty of the national economy and how that would impact the budget. 'We have increased some budget areas to, hopefully, offset some increased expenses from the uncertainty in the markets,' Brown said. 'The other thing that we will do is we will try to anticipate areas where goods are going to have faster increases in costs. And so we will buy ahead as much as we can.' According to the press release, the proposed final budget includes $207,523,588 in revenue – 79% of which will come from property taxes. Before anything is set in stone, there may be additional items presented to the board that could help the district bring the increase down. 'There still could be some impacts that, some items that are impacted that the final budget proposal – it may not be the exact document that they see on June 2 that they were presented with last night,' Brown said. However, the possibility of a decrease happening for this budget is unlikely. 'This year, because of the economic uncertainty, because of the $20 million building project that we have at Mount Nittany Elementary School going on right now, and the upcoming Park Forest Middle School project, as well as the district-wide facility master plan planning that we are working on, I would not expect that tax rate to decrease too much,' Brown said. Now that the district's board has approved the proposed final budget, they are required to give the community at least a 15-day notice that the final budget will be approved on June 2. Between now and then, the board will host a public hearing for people to come and learn more about the budget and weigh in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Facing outcry, State College district walks back changes to preferred name use in schools
Just one week after sharing initial plans that drew outcry, the State College Area School District is walking back parts of its push to require the use of students' legal names in some software programs and district applications. In an email sent to student families on Feb. 25, SCASD director of technology Justin Hetrick said the district was moving forward with plans to begin using students' legal names over preferred names in some applications, including the PowerSchool student information system. A subsequent email from Superintendent Curtis Johnson three days later said the district would, in response to community feedback, accommodate preferred names 'wherever possible' before changes are implemented over spring break, which begins March 10. 'Even though we have to use legal names in some cases, we understand the importance of recognizing and respecting preferred names,' Johnson wrote in his Feb. 28 message to district families. As things stand, students can display and use their preferred name in classrooms with faculty and staff, on their diplomas and through district-approved applications, including their email addresses, Google Classroom and the PowerSchool platform. At the district school board's March 3 meeting, Johnson said preferred names and pronouns will remain available for student IDs, too. Changes to the use of students' legal names over preferred names were first proposed to help the district 'ensure accuracy and compliance with various requirements,' Hetrick wrote to families. The modifications were described not as an adjustment to specific school policy, but as procedural changes that would help State College officials comply with legal standards. The district did not indicate in its communications that the change is related to President Donald Trump's order to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at schools. Legal documents, applications and some standardized tests — including transcripts, SAT exams and college applications — often require the use of a student's legal name. Messages from the district said legal name use would help implement special education plans and allow school nurses to accurately administer care and medication. A bulleted list shared in the Feb. 28 message from Johnson said the use of legal names is required on official transcripts, working papers, 504 plans and individualized educational programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities and state testing and state reporting requirements in Pennsylvania. Student IDs were also listed among this group, but they have since been adapted to continue allowing preferred names, the superintendent said at March 3's board meeting. At the board meeting, Johnson said students who use a preferred name over their legal name can still obtain a student ID featuring their legal name by contacting the district's computer services team. Preferred names will remain the default option, though legal names are used for students who have not entered a preferred name into district systems. The board meeting featured lengthy periods of public comment in which six students and community members spoke against district efforts to prioritize legal names over preferred names. Many who spoke viewed the walked-back pivot to legal names as a step that would alienate or discriminate against transgender, non-binary and other gender-diverse students who may identify outside of their legal names and pronouns. Cat Cook, a district parent and the executive director of the Centre LGBT+ nonprofit, said recognizing preferred names and pronouns significantly improves inclusiveness in schools and communities. 'When students are called by their chosen name, they feel recognized, affirmed and empowered, and when their name appears on their ID — something they carry with them daily — it is a visible acknowledgment of their humanity and dignity,' Cook told the board. 'However, for students whose chosen names are not recognized, the impact can be profound,' she continued. 'It sends a message, albeit unintentionally, that who they are is not worthy of validation or respect. It can cause feelings of alienation, stress and insecurity — emotions that no student should have to bear in an environment that is supposed to support their growth.' Elana Szczesny, a licensed psychologist and parent of two students, said State College officials failed to adequately share policy details and updates on its implementation with students and families. The short-notice change caught community shareholders off-guard, she said. 'Some students had to hear that news, fear for their privacy and potential safety in school, and then be expected to go about the rest of their day,' Szczesny said. 'I know families whose children felt scared to go to school on Friday morning, unsure if they would be greeted with a deadname when they opened up their computers and be outed to their classmates... Communication regarding this initial policy and ongoing attempts to adapt it were insufficient and untimely, leading to more worry.' Johnson said the district will share additional updates with district families through another communication before changes enter effect over spring break. As of March 6, district officials have not yet shared further information regarding the procedural changes.
