W-b Man Gets Probation In Domestic Dispute Case

153 Cyclists Pump Out $45,000 For A Good Cause 
A Record Number Of Participants 
Raise Money For Hospice St. John, 
And Follow It With Barbecue Dinner

By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, July 30, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





NANTICOKE -- Taxpayers in the Greater Nanticoke Area School District will
pay higher taxes for fewer services under a budget passed Monday by the School
Board. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was the board's sixth attempt at a spending plan since June. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The $17.8 million budget, which passed 7-0, calls for a 20-mill increase,
five fewer teachers and one less first-grade class. It also will require more
students to walk to school. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last year's budget was $16.7 million with a tax rate of 198 mills. The
millage rate for taxpayers in 1996-97 will be 218. A mill is a $1 tax on every
$1,000 of assessed property value. A property assessed at $3,000 will see a
tax increase of $60. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 School Board member Carol Hynoski-Yeager, also vice president of the GNA
Taxpayers Forum, previously had voted against a similar budget, but described
Monday's vote as a "necessary evil." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm not happy with the 20-mill increase, but sometimes you have to do
things you don't want to do," Hynoski-Yeager said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The board adopted the budget after a brief discussion before approximately
100 district taxpayers who attended the meeting. Many left the meeting without
showing a reaction, a board member said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although it adopted a budget, the board agreed to ask the State Department
of Education to review this year's and next year's spending plans to see if
the district can save money or spend more efficiently. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board President Sylvia Mizdail, who also went from opposing the budget to
voting for it, said the board voted as it did because many members feared the
district faces an even larger millage increase the next time around because of
rising costs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of the cost-cutting measures recommended by Superintendent Anthony
Perrone and Business Manager Allison Woodeshick and adopted in the budget
Monday will limit bus service to students who live one mile from their school. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hynoski-Yeager said she believed the district's previous busing rules
allowed the district to pick up elementary students who lived closer than one
mile. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A second recommendation was to not hire full-time replacements for three
elementary school and two high school teachers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Instead, the district agreed to hire a part-time chemistry teacher and a
part-time kindergarten teacher. Other courses, such as high school English and
Science, formerly taught by the retiring teachers, would be absorbed by
current staff. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The board also agreed to eliminate one first-grade class at KM Smith
Elementary because of the shortage of teachers. The district will consolidate
four classes into three. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board member Terry Ziolkowski also said he was unhappy with the 20-mill
increase, but believes the budget is fair. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm pleased that we have a budget. And this budget will not hurt anyone,"
Ziolkowski said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The board failed to pass a budget at five previous meetings, including one
on July 12. Ziolkowski said the budget would have failed again Tuesday if it
were not for a series of four stipulations added to the spending plan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mizdail introduced the stipulations in response to a request from board
members at previous meetings who had asked why she would not support the
budget. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mizdail said she designed the stipulations to act as a safeguard to make
sure the board follows the budget as written. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mizdail said the stipulations, which passed by a vote of 4-3, are: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Budget reductions adopted by the board based on recommendations by Perrone
and Woodeshick may not be changed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A hiring freeze for the next year, with the exception of the part-time
chemistry teacher and a part-time kindergarten teacher. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The stipulations may not be changed and no hiring may be done without a
two-thirds majority vote by the board. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mizdail, Ziolowski, and Hynoski-Yeager and fellow board member Ted Grohoski
voted for the stipulations. Board members Les Williams, Pat Denoy and Dennis
Makarczyk opposed the stipulations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board members Dorothy Ashford and Robert Bertoni were not present at the
meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader correspondent Jeannie Seeley contributed to this report. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gna Gets Tax-hiking Budget $17.8 Million Spending Plan For 1996-97 Calls For 20-mill Tax Increase