Gateway OKs clay target team

Monroeville’s Gateway School District will have a clay target team beginning next spring.

School board members voted unanimously this weekto allow creation of the team, which will not use any district funds.

Solicitor Bruce Dice told directors he checked with the district’s insurer and the league activities will be covered. He said activities for the group would be off campus and it won’t cost the district any money because the team plans to do its own fundraising.

Ten students (seven boys and , three girls) have expressed an interest in the team. Parent Christine Sterner said the group will start advertising for more participants and begin fundraising and practice this month. The team’s spring session is slated to start in March.

Gateway parent Matt Birx attended the meeting to offer his assistance. He is a former target shooter for Gander Mountain and was partially sponsored by Browning, a firearms and fishing gear company.

Financial concerns

Directors Cheryl Boise and Donna Burns expressed concerns about not having a comprehensive list of all expenditures for supplemental programs, such as activities and clubs.

“Where do we squeeze that in so we see the big picture of all the amounts of money we’re giving to activities?” Boise asked.

“I feel like it’s a charge card. I think it’s really easy to keep charging things and doing these things and then all of a sudden you get hit with a bill,” Boise added. “We keep saying OK, OK, because we want the kids to be able to do these things. But in the end, it’s like, what’s the bottom line?”

Director of Personnel Andrea Jessel said that there is a master list of supplemental programs, but not all of the outliers — such as the bowling or hockey teams —may be included.

Burns said that the board has been asking to review “the whole supplemental process” and for a comprehensive list for seven or eight months.

“When do we actually expect to have that?” Burns asked.

Superintendent Guy Rossi said that he wants the list to be thorough. The plan is to reach out to the sponsors and to gather and present that information in January for budget season.

“To me it’s before budget season, right?” Burns said. “I think we need to do a review of understanding what supplements are and what all that stuff is, and then (Business Manager Mike Zourelias) can start putting it in the budget.

“I think we’ve been asking to understand … Are we being equitable across all the organizations?”

“We are working behind the scenes,” Rossi said.

Zourelias said a certain amount is allocated for supplementals and then it is generally increased 1% annually.