Yough board prepared to borrow money if necessary

The ongoing budget stalemate in Harrisburg has forced the Yough School District to join the ranks of many other Pennsylvania school districts in having to shore up their finances to meet financial obligations.

During last week's regular meeting of the Yough School Board, directors approved the authorization of a non-revolving tax and revenue anticipation note with First National Bank in the amount of $3,000,000.

The district's business manager, Mike Wrobleski said the revenue anticipation note is like a line of credit. He said he's been working on the district's cash flow analysis and thought it might be needed after the district paid a $2.5 million debt service payment in September.

But the situation was watched very carefully and they didn't have to use it, Wrobleski said. Part of the reason was the state allowed the district to pay only half the usual pension payment, he said. Normally, the district makes a full payment, then the state reimburses half. Because of the budget situation, the state just asked for half at the outset, he said.

“So that helped with the cash flow thing,” he said. “Subsequent to that, a ton of tax revenue has come in, so we don't have an issue until probably February.”

Wrobleski said the interest rate on the note is 1.25 percent. “So the interest impact is going to be very nominal,” he said.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a policy on the use of naloxone, a drug used to reverse the effects of opioids, especially in overdose.

Board president Chris Boucher said, “We're proud to say that we are, I think, officially or unofficially the first (school district) in the state to request it (naloxone kits).”

“I think it's a good thing. It's not an easy thing, but it's a good thing,” he said.

All the training for using the kits is in process, Boucher said.

The board also approved employing Nicole Dahlstrom as a four-hour sweeper at H.W. Good Elementary School, accepted the resignation of Steve Mlinarich as assistant middle school basketball coach and approved the annual stipend for Wrobleski for performing the duties and supervisory responsibilities of the custodial and maintenance department in the amount of $12,000 retroactive to July 1.

Absent from the meeting was Director Ruth Bisko and Superintendent Janet Sardon.

William S. Zirkle is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at bzirkle@tribweb.com or 724-872-6800.