The Fairfield Area School District passed its final budget for the 2023-24 school year on Monday evening with no tax increases.
The millage rate will remain at 11.1305.
Even without a tax increase, the board still expects to have a surplus of $188,959. The approved budget includes revenues of $19,836,530 and expenditures of $19,647,571.
While there won’t be any tax increases this year, the board did agree to raise the price of meals in the cafeteria. In its consent agenda, the board set the following cafeteria prices:
- Breakfast for elementary school students – $1.45 (formerly $1.25)
- Breakfast for middle school/high school students – $1.55 (not previously offered)
- Breakfast for adults – $2 (not previously offered)
- Lunch for elementary school students – $2.75 (formerly $2.65)
- Lunch for middle school/high school students – $2.95 (formerly $2.85)
- Lunch for adults – $4 (formerly $3.85)
Business manager Tim Stanton and Superintendent Thomas Haupt encouraged the board during its meeting on May 9 to raise the meal prices. The cafeteria prices have remained the same for several years and have been below the average rates in Adams, York and Franklin counties.
During that same May meeting, Stanton proposed offering breakfast to middle and high school students. Those breakfast prices were included in the consent agenda on Monday.
Staff changes
The board said goodbye to Daniel Watkins, the outgoing supervisor of special education.
Watkins’ resignation was approved during a board meeting in March. He will resign on Thursday.
Haupt and the board thanked Watkins for his service with the district.
The board also approved hiring Todd L. Wolf as the new assistant principal for the middle and high schools.
Wolford will begin work on or before July 1, according to the agenda.
“My time with the superintendent has been unbelievable,” Wolford told the board. “I’ve met very few people who make an impression on me in the school system as much as he has, and I’ve been in it for awhile. I’m anxious to be a part of this staff, be a part of the team, and do the best we can by our students and the stakeholders in the community.”
Wolford said he is eager to begin work.
“(Haupt) has got some great ideas I want to bring to fruition for you,” Wolford said.
Other business
The board voted to reappoint Lashay M. Kalathas as its treasurer.
In its agenda, the board announced that it previously held two closed meetings, both on June 13, in order to discuss personnel and legal issues.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, July 25. The meeting will be held in the district board room and livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel.
Imari Scarbrough is a freelance journalist. She was a staff newspaper reporter for five years before becoming a freelancer in 2017. She has written on crime, environmental issues, severe weather events, local and regional government and more.
You can visit her website at ImariJournal.com.