POMEROY — The annual tax budget for the Meigs Local School District for the 2013-2014 fiscal year was adopted as presented by Treasurer/CFO Mark Rhonemus for submission to the Meigs County Budget Commission for review when the Board of Education met Tuesday night.

The report shows a summary of the amount required from general property taxes approved by the budget commission and the county auditor’s estimated rates for the coming school year. It includes estimated revenues for the district which, as Treasurer/CFO Mark Rhonemus pointed out, are always subject to change. He described the budget as another “living, breathing document always subject to change.”

Rhonemus also discussed possible changes coming in state funding for schools, and how that might affect district finances. He made reference to the permanent appropriations of $28,595,430 passed by the board earlier for operation of schools in the Meigs Local District in the next fiscal year.

He also reported that the county auditor had told him that if all delinquent taxes due now were collected, that there would be an additional $1.6 million going to the Meigs school district.

During the meeting, the Board approved renewing OSBA legal assistant fund consultant service contract in the amount of $250 for the current calendar year. Tonya Smith was hired as a substitute teacher for the remainder of the 2012-13 school year to be used on an as-needed basis.

Reports were given on school operations by Dean Harris, transportation director, who noted that while school is halfway through, the fuel budget for the years is at only at the one-third use level. He attributed this to the single route busing instituted by the board members this year which resulted in a reduction of the mileage covered by the buses. Harris noted that included in the gas use reduction figure were all after-school activities where bus transportation was involved.

He announced that the local Davis Bus Co., which facilitated the purchase of the last new buses, has invited Meigs mechanics for a free trip to North Carolina to see how the buses are built. The mechanics are willing to take a free day, Jan. 21 (Martin Luther Day) for the trip, and the Board of Education gave verbal approval at the meeting.

Paul McElroy, building supervisor, reported on building maintenance programs and other activities relating to school facilities. He presented to the Board a breakdown on building expenses, a summary of the work done and the hours involved in doing it.

Reporting on things relating to technology in the district was Matt Simpson, director, who noted repair and infrastructure work under way, and talked about the use of personal devices, particularly relating to allowing students to bring their own devices for use at school. He said there was no Board policy about that. He listed as a “hot topic” the issue of wireless and commented on a possible “parent portal” which would allow parents to access information on their students as a wireless advantage.

Preceding the regular Board meeting an organizational session for 2013 was held. By unanimous vote Roger Abbott, a 20-year Board member, was elected president, and Larry Tucker, vice president. Meetings were set for the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month with the exception of the next meeting which will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, and will include a discussion pertaining to a revision of Board of Education Policy 1520 entitled “Employment of Administrators” striking “last day of March” and adding “first day of June” as recommended by NEOLA.

The salary for Board members was set at $125 per meeting attended with Tucker, Abbott, Todd Snowden and Ron Logan voting in favor, and Ryan Mahr, against.

The Board authorized the treasurer/CFO to secure tax advances from the Meigs County Auditor when funds are available and payable to the School District, and to review appropriations at the fund level as needed and then to submit them to the Board for approval.

The superintendent was designated to apply for, receive, expend and account for all federal and state grants or funds.