Preliminary School Budget, Fuel Oil Bids Top Agenda

The Easton Area School Board has a big decision before members Tuesday night.

The board will decide among three options of staff cuts and tax hikes in voting to adopt the school district's 2013-2014 preliminary budget.

But while the meeting's main focus will be on financial concerns, the board will also address a few other issues outlined by Business Manager Michael Simonetta at Tuesday's work session.

Simonetta said he'll ask the board to approve a property tax rebate program that is usually done annually. He told board members that the proposal has not changed from prior years.

Also on the agenda is expected approval of fuel oil bids.

The bids are for biodiesel and octane and were organized by the IU, Simonetta said.

Board Member Frank Pintabone asked Simonetta to check whether local oil companies were involved in the bidding.

Simonetta said he is also going to seek the board's approval on a tax rebate program for senior citizens. He said applications are due shortly.