The BASD School Board began the New Year with a bang starting preliminary budget discussions at the Jan. 6 meeting.

During the facilities and curriculum committee meetings Facilities Director Mark Stein made a presentation of the projects he would like considered for the summer. Some of the projects have to be approved with money available in the budget now because next years budget will not be approved in time to accomplish the project while school is out.

Some of the proposed projects include replacing the roof of the gym at Spring Garden, replacing emergency systems and generator at Asa Packer, along with various flooring replacements, paving and concrete repairs, and various mechanical and electrical repairs.

"[We are] looking at list of eight different projects to tackle," said Stein.

Business Manager Stacy Gober gave a presentation during the curriculum meeting on the budget and how the board goes about deciding how to sustain programs and what cuts need to be made to create a balanced budget for the upcoming school year. The timeline presented for approving the budget was also released during the presentation. A preliminary budget will be completed and presented in February and will go into effect if approved. If not approved the budget will go back to the drawing board and be presented for approval at a later date.

"[There are] Two sets of adoptions, one in February and tentative adoption in May and then final adoption in June. The preliminary budget is to be discussed at next finance meeting on Feb. 25. The governor's budget generally scheduled to be released the first Tuesday of February. It provides wiggle room in case the district loses money from governor," said Gober.

In other news BASD Engineer Arif Fazil presented an update on Nitschman MS. The project has reached the point where Plan Con A and B are being sent for approval and the schematic design is just about complete. During the presentation Fazil highlighted the traffic controls being implemented in the design and the drastic impact it will have on traffic. He also talked about the impact of the schools traffic control features on the public who live in the area.

The district is seeking reimbursement for the project from the Pennsylvania Department of Education even though there is a moratorium still in place on new Plan Con projects and the department is not accepting any new applications. The moratorium was put in place Oct. 1, 2012. All reports and facility studies needed to be submitted for reimbursement are being conducted in an effort to be in compliance and ready to preserve the potential opportunity to receive reimbursement funds.

The school is being projected as being completed in July 2018.