Sunday, February 17, 2013
THE DALLAS POST
PAGE 3
LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
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Superintendent tells of governor's visit to district
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By SUSAN DENNEY
Dallas Post Correspondent
apt the Feb. 11 Lake-Lehman
1 Board meeting, Superin-
wendent James McGovern told
residents about a recent visit to
the district by Governor Tom
Corbett. McGovern said the gov-
ernor’s office had set up strict pa-
rameters for the visit, including
lists of those who could participa-
te in a meeting with him and that
the district was not allowed to
publicize the visit.
McGovern said the governor
visited Lehman-Jackson Elemen-
tary School where he met with
students and members of the dis-
trict administration.
“This little school district has
the ear of the governor,” he said.
A resident questioned if the
governor had been told of the in-
creasing tax burden placed on
property owners. District taxes
will rise in a preliminary budget
passed by the board.
Board Treasurer Andrew Salko
said, “We had a very frank discus-
“This little school district has the ear of the gov-
ernor.”
James McGovern
Lake-Lehman School District superintendent
The school board voted for a
preliminary budget of
$28,203,822 for 2013-2014. The
non-binding budget calls for a
3.98 per cent raise in millage
rates. The proposed millage rate
sion with him.”
on assessed value in Luzerne
County would become 9.6393
mills. The millage rate for those
properties which lie in Wyoming
County would become 56.2054.
With the new tax rate, a proper-
ty owner whose home is worth
$200,000 in Luzerne County
would pay an additional $73.86
for the year. A property with an
assessed value of $25,000 in
Wyoming County would require
an additional $68.64 for the year.
A mill is a $1 tax on each $1,000
of assessed property value.
Tom Melone, the district’s fi-
nancial manager, pointed out
that the state’s contribution to
the district would be increased
by about $226,000. But he also
pointed out that, even with those
contributions and the tax in-
crease, the district would still not
have a balanced budget.
Melone projects revenues for
the district will be $26,717,643,
indicating that $1,887,166 would
need to be taken from the dis-
trict’s current fund balance to
cover 2013-2014 expenses.
When residents questioned the
rising taxes, board members ex-
plained that retirement costs and
health costs are driving the in-
creases, adding that retirement
costs are state-mandated but un-
funded.
Resident Edward Marchakitus
See VISIT, Page 1l
Rollmans married 50
Frank and Marlene Rollman,
of Dallas, will celebrate their
50th wedding anniversary this
month. They were married on
Feb. 23, 1963 in Saint Ignatius
Church, Kingston, by Rev. Eu-
gene Devitt.
Mrs. Rollman is the daughter
of the late Harold and Gertrude
ath. She is a graduate of Lu-
® High School and, prior to
ucr retirement, was employed
as a secretary/receptionist for
Dr. George Nahas.
Mr. Rollman is the son of the
late Christian and Elizabeth
Rollman. He is a graduate of
Meyers High School and Wilkes
College, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration. He proudly
served his country in the United
States Navy. Prior to his retire-
ment, he was employed for 40
years at Blue Cross of Northeast-
ern Pennsylvania.
Their attendants were Marga-
ret (Peggie) Monforte Grula,
matron of honor; and Frank Car-
trignano, best man.
The couple has three chil-
dren, Richard and his wife, Ka-
ren, Seattle, Washington; Jerry
and his wife, Debbie, Harris-
burg; and Kim, Exeter. They al-
so have three grandchildren, Ni-
cholas, Seattle, Washington;
and Zachary and Jacob, Harris-
burg. 4
The entire family celebrated
the milestone anniversary with
a trip to Maui, Hawaii in July.
The happy couple are avid Penn
State fans and enjoy travelling
and visiting their grandchildren. MR. AND MRS. FRANK ROLLMAN
years
DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT
District looks into improving
safety and security policies
By GERI GIBBONS
Dallas Post Correspondent
Dallas School District Super-
intendent Frank Galicki said at
the Feb. 4 school board meeting
that a recent meeting of the
school’s Parent Advisory Council
served as a review of its safety
and security policies.
Galicki reported the council is
gathering information in regard
to possibly garnering state and
federal funding for additional
surveillance equipment.
“We haven't completely as-
sessed the situation yet,” Galicki
said, “but we are looking into uti-
lizing additional technological
tools, such as iPads, to monitor
school grounds and keep our stu-
dents as safe as possible.”|
Galicki said the district is also
looking into a more intricate sys-
tem of identifying those entering
the building and utilizing a facial
recognition system.
He emphasized the district’s
confidence-in the Dallas Town-
ship Police Department and its
familiarity with school grounds
and procedures.
“Should a problem occur, I am
sure police response would be
excellent and immediate,” he
said.
Board president Richard Cos-
“We haven't completely assessed the situation yet,
but we are looking into utilizing additional techno-
logical tools, such as iPads, to monitor school
grounds and keep our students as safe as possi-
ble."
Frank Galicki
Dallas School District superintendent
lett also emphasized the commit-
ment of the district to assure the
highest level of student safety.
In another matter, resident
Thomas Dombroski questioned
the board about needed repairs
to the Dallas Elementary School
roof and the existence of possible
warranties on the roof.
Several members of the board
told Dombroski that no warran-
ties exist.
“No imminent danger exists in
regard to this repair,” said board
member Maureen Matiska. “And
the board is still in the process of
reviewing various approaches to
the structure itself, which is need
of maintenance and repair.”
Matiska'was referring to con-
tinuing board discussions re-
garding closing the Dallas Ele-
mentary School and incorporat-
ing its students into the Wycallis
Elementary School building.
Liz Martin requested several
items of memorabilia be re-
trieved upon demolition of the
Dallas Township Building
should that occur.
District solicitor Benjamin
Jones said he would look into the
legalities of this matter and re-
port back to the board.
“We cannot simply give dis-
trict property away,” Jones said.
“There might be an issue.”
Martin hopes she is able to re-
cover items from the school, be-
lieving they might otherwise
simply be destroyed.
Board member Karen Kyle,
the board’s representative to the
West-Side Career & Technical
Center’s Joint Operating Com-
mittee, reported that a recent
tour of that facility by members
of the committee provided an op-
portunity to get a better under-
standing of its programs.
See POLICIES, Page 11
KINGSTON TOWNSHIP
Supervisors listen to public
comments about Comcast
By GERI GIBBONS
Dallas Post Correspondent
Kingston Township Board of
Supervisors held a special pub-
lic meeting on Feb. 13, inviting
public input into an assessment
of services provided by Com-
cast, its present cable and inter-
net provider.
Resident Bob Gruner, of Sha-
vertown, said his bill has in-
creased dramatically since
2009 when he originally moved
to the area. He also complained
about the quality of cable ser-
vices offered, saying he often re-
ceives an error message direct-
ing him to call Comcast.
“I don’t understand why I
have tospend time onthe phone
just tomaintain my basic servic-
es,” said Gruner. “I just expect
consistent high-quality ser-
vice.”
4@hhe township has retained
n Law Group to negotiate
the Comcast contract negotia-
tions.
“Negotiations should include
both price and quality of ser-
vice,” said supervisor James Re-
ino, indicating further research
and discussion would be con-
ducted on the matter.
During its regular meeting,
the board discussed the South
Main Street bridge project. In
order to complete the project as
presently designed, it would be
necessary for Dallas Area Mu-
nicipal Authority (DAMA) to
move an adjacent pipe at signif-
“I don't understand why | have to spend time on
the phone just to maintain
just expect consistent high-quality service.”
my basic services. |
Bob Gruner
Shavertown
icant cost.
Township Manager Kathleen
Sebastian said the county was
considering limiting Main
Street to one lane, thus reduc-
ing the cost of the project.
In another matter, board
chairman Jeffrey Box voiced
concerns regarding Luzerne
County’s recent change in tax
billing procedures and its effect
on the township.
He said the board would as-
sess the cost of various options
available for township real es-
tate tax billing and discuss the
matter at its next meeting.
The board also presented its
holiday house awards, with
Mike Dzanko receiving the first-
place award and Ed and Amy
Kwak receiving second place.
“We would also like to thank
the recreation board’s Rich Wy-
da, Mary Wargo and Stacy Mur-
ray for their hard work on this
annual holiday project,” said
Reino.
Reino also lauded township
residents who consistently con-
tributed to the Back Mountain
Food Pantry.
Richard Harrison reported
the pantry consistently pro-
vides over 150 meals to area res-
idents on holidays.
Lenten church services scheduled
Back Mountain churches
will hold their annual Ecu-
menical Soup and Scripture
during the five Mondays of
Lent. Services will begin at 6
p.m. following by soup at
6:45 p.m. Closing prayers
will be held at 8 p.m.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday, Feb. 18 - St.
Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dal-
las
Monday, Feb. 25 — Leh-
man-Idetown United Metho-
dist Church, Lehman
Monday, March 4 — Maple
Grove United Methodist
Church, Pikes Creek
Monday, March 11
Huntsville United Metho-
dist Church, Huntsville
Monday, March 18 — Our
Lady of Mount Carmel
Church, Lake Silkworth
Harrington is Paul Harris Fellow
The Paul Harris Fellow Award,
the most prestigious award of Ro-
tary International, has been pre-
sented by the Wyoming Rotary to
John Harrington, of Dallas, a 5-
year club member. The award
consists of a pin and medallion
given in appreciation of tangible
and significant assistance for the
furtherance of better understand-
ing and friendly relations be-
tween people of the World.” The
Wyoming Rotary Club, in making
the award, donated $1,000 to the
Rotary Foundation. The money
is used to fund international and
district projects. From left, are
Harrington and Mark Sobeck,
Rotary club member and presen-
ter.
Trash bls vi
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Kindergarten registration planne
March 19-22 i Dallas schools
Frank Galicki, superintendent
of the Dallas School District, an-
nounces that kindergarten regis-
tration for the 2013-2014 school
year will be held Tuesday, March
19 through Friday, March 22 in
the Commons Area of the Dallas
High School.
Morning hours will be from
8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday
through Thursday. Afternoon
hours will be from noon to 2:30
p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Friday hours will be 8:15 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.
Parents are asked not to arrive
prior to 8:15 a.m. for the morning
registrations due to traffic con-
gestion and not after 2:30 p.m. for
the afternoon registrations due
to student dismissal.
A child must be 5 years of age
on or before Sept. 1, 2013 to make
him or her eligible for kindergar-
ten. A birth certificate, passport
or baptismal certificate for the
child will be accepted as proof of
age.
A parent/guardian photo is re-
quired when registering a stu-
dent. Parents must also provide
two proofs of parent/guardian
residency. Acceptable proofs of
residency are:
¢ Current utility bill, including
landline telephone, electric, wa-
ter, gas, cable, etc. (wireless tele-
phone bills cannot be accepted)
e Current rental/mortgage
contract or receipt, including
deed of sale for property
e Current paycheck/check
stub, work ID badge, if address is
included
e Current driver license/ID is-
sued by the Pennsylvania Depart-
ment of Transportation
¢ Current Pennsylvania motor
vehicle registration or title
® Current Internal Revenue
Service tax reporting W-2 form
within the last 12 months
® Receipt for personal proper-
ty or real estate taxes paid within
the past year
See DALLAS, Page 11