Content about Susan Nolan

07.29.11

At least a portion of Northgate School District’s full-day kindergarten program could be restored, thanks to a state grant that will provide some funding.

Northgate eliminated full-day kindergarten in budget cuts last month. The program had been funded by a state accountability block grant of nearly $200,000, funds that were drastically cut in Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2011-12 budget for Pennsylvania.

06.24.11

Taxes go up at Northgate

Despite protests from a handful of residents who attended the Northgate School Board meeting Monday evening, the district’s elected officials not only adopted a budget funded by a one-mill property tax increase, but found another $60,000 in additional expenditures to add to the bottom line.

06.17.11

Northgate to raise taxes

The Northgate School Board can balance the coming year's budget, but it will not be able to raise taxes enough next year to fund the 2012-13 budget.

That is the rationale expressed by a majority of board members for why they plan to vote in favor of a 2011-12 property tax millage increase next week.

Finance committee chairman Daniel O'Keefe said at the board's work session on June 13 that of the $1.6 million cut from Northgate's budget for the coming year, about $1 million is a one-time savings due to retirements and staff furloughs.

05.20.11

Northgate keeps cuts in proposed final budget

By VICKI MORTIMER

After hearing from those opposed to some of the cuts made to balance the Northgate School District’s 2011-12 budget, the board voted Monday to propose a spending plan with no tax increase, and no funding for full-day kindergarten, a spring musical, or several teaching positions.

About 15 students concerned about the reduction of funding for the high school musical told the board that the musical taught them the value of hard work, was a lot of fun, brought the students closer, let students express themselves, and improved the students' singing and acting abilities.

03.25.11

Taxpayers looking for answers from Northgate

A room full of residents looking for answers to the Northgate School District’s financial problems didn’t get them at Monday’s school board meeting.

With no budget discussion on the agenda, the issue was left to the taxpayers who attended to stress their concerns over another proposed tax hike and what programs could be cut.

After last year’s 3.1 mill property tax increase, the district has requested permission from the state to increase taxes by another 2.5 mills for the coming year in an effort to mitigate a $1.3 million budget deficit.

02.18.11

Northgate to seek 2.5 mill exception

While the Northgate School Board seeks permission to increase property taxes 2.5 mills in the coming year, a challenge to cut spending was endorsed more heartily in theory than in practice at the board’s work session on Monday.

09.24.10

Early EIT switch to save money

Earned income taxes for Avalon Borough and the Northgate School District will be collected next year by a new company, as both local government agencies have opted to hire the regional tax collector a year early.

State law -- Act 32 -- requires that EIT collection be consolidated throughout the state, in most cases on a county-by-county basis. Because of its size and population, Allegheny County has been divided into four tax collection districts, with local municipalities and school districts located in the Allegheny North Tax Collection District (ANTCD).

05.14.10

Musical will continue

Musical theater will continue in the Northgate School District for at least one more year.

Parents, staff and school board members spoke at the Monday board committee of the whole meeting in support of continuing arts programs that had been proposed for cuts in an effort to reduce spending and future budget deficits.

Musical director Karen Klicker said that the district would fund the high school musical for the coming year while everyone explored what board president Susan Nolan called "creative funding ideas."

04.30.10

Northgate goes for max tax hike

By ROBERTA SLANINA O’BRIEN

With officials still coming up empty-handed when it comes to reducing costs, the Northgate School Board has approved a preliminary 2010-11 budget that will increase property taxes by the full 3.1 mills allowed by the state.

Initially limited to a tax increase totalling a fraction of that amount, the district successfully applied for exceptions from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that gave the school board the power to raise the millage rate beyond the annual index amount without having to obtain voter approval of a ballot referendum.

02.12.10

Northgate looks for budget cuts

Hoping that every little bit will help, the Northgate School Board came up with a handful of ideas at its Monday work session to cut costs and reduce a potentially sizeable millage increase in the coming fiscal year.

02.05.10

Northgate seeks millage max

With a philosophy of getting them all and sorting them out later, the Northgate School District will apply for exceptions that would allow the school board to increase property taxes more than three times the allowable index for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

01.22.10

News Briefs

Chief search A police officer who lives in Avalon told borough officials Tuesday not to look too far from home for a new police chief.

With current Chief Robert Howie set to retire this year, council hired a consultant to conduct a search and recommend candidates for his replacement.

01.22.10

Northgate start date

The post-Labor Day faction won this year's school calendar debate, so Northgate students will start school on Sept. 7 next year.

Start times at Northgate have fluctuated over the last several years depending on the make-up of the school board, with two groups equally dedicated to their views on whether classes should begin before or after the fall holiday.

12.11.09

Coin toss decides board officers

It took nine roll call votes, two recesses and a coin toss before the Northgate School Board was able to elect a new president during the reorganization meeting Monday evening.

Incumbent Charles Miklos was elected to two board seats -- one for a four-year term and one for a two-year term -- during the November general election, and chose to accept the four-year seat. That left a two-year vacancy and only eight board members available to elect new officers during the Dec. 7 meeting.

09.25.09

News Briefs

Relief funds Kilbuck Township officials are not sure what to do with almost $5,000 in fire relief funds received recently.

08.14.09

News Briefs

Budget cuts?

Avonworth administrators may look to budget cuts for Avonworth Elementary School in order to provide additional consulting services at the school.

Board treasurer Frank Mucha said at the board's regular meeting on Monday that the district is looking at entering into an agreement with John Esaias for consulting services for the first semester of this school year.

The agreement would pay Esaias $50 per hour, to work two days a week, at a cost not to exceed $12,500.

04.17.09

Fighting fire with fire

Northgate officials have long lamented the fact that some $160,000 is spent each year to cover the tuition of district students who attend cyber charter schools rather than Northgate’s own facilities. The expenditure of stimulus funds for special education students, however, could open a door that will close off that drain on the district’s budget.