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Forty Fort United Methodist Church nativity scene more alive than ever, thanks to Wyoming Valley West art students

Split scheduling for Coughlin students likely, W-B Area superintendent says

<p>UNION TWP. &#8212; Officials from Northwest Area School District headed to Harrisburg Tuesday morning to push for an end to the state budget impasse.</p><p>Director of District Operations Betsy Ellis said she and others from the district plan to meet at State Rep. Tarah Toohil&#8217;s office at 9:30 a.m., then head out to the Capitol steps at 10 a.m. for a media conference.</p><p>School Board President Randy Tomasacci said the goal is to take their case directly to the legislators who have been part of the impasse. &#8220;We want to tell them you are causing pain.&#8221;</p><p>Tomasacci has warned the district, Luzerne County&#8217;s smallest, will run out of money and face the possibility of closing its doors Feb. 2. The district has already borrowed $2.4 million to get through the delay in state funding, he added, which began when Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the package proposed by the Republican-controlled legislature June 30. The two sides have voiced optimism of reaching an agreement in recent weeks, but no deal has been made as the Christmas break approaches.</p><p>Tomasacci said the district is considering setting up a line of credit it could draw from in coming months to remain open, but stressed &#8220;that borrowing money costs money,&#8221; and said one of the things the district representatives want to stress in Harrisburg is that any budget deal should compensate districts for interest incurred on money borrowed to survive the impasse.</p><p>Ellis said that, along with herself and Tomasacci, others planning to make the trip include Board Vice President Gerald Conger, Board Secretary Mike Kreidler, Treasurer Clarence Lewis and Business Manager Kristi Straub.</p><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Running out of money, Northwest Area officials head to Harrisburg