The Exeter Township School Board has approved a property tax hike to balance the 2017-2018 district budget.
The increase passed 5-1, establishing the 2017-2018 real estate millage at 32.6214. Board member Dr. Ann M. Hearing voted against the increase. The general fund budget passed the approval of all present members in the amount of $74,419,573.
School board members approved the recommendation calling for an investigation of the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System (PSERS). The resolution requests Gov. Tom Wolf and legislators to support immediate action on pension reform and investigation to determine if mismanagement or improper activity occurred.
In other business, William Cain, senior high school principal, presented his building and program report. Accompanying Cain was Jason Deane, assistant principal. Cain’s report touched on student learning, with the implementation of “Schoology.” The high school curriculum will introduce new courses for the upcoming school year. The courses include Intermediate Algebra, The Contemporary Reader, International Business, and honors level biology, chemistry, and physics. “One of the problems we have with kids’ reading is they never practice, said Cain while describing his enthusiasm for The Contemporary Reader. “They read these things (holding up his cell phone) all day long, but they don’t read books, they don’t read for pleasure.”
Deane covered crisis management and the success of the second Mini Thon, which helped raise over $21,000. The board was also pleased to hear that truancies and tardiness was cut in half this year. Deane credited modifications to entry procedures and intervention tactics.
