Carrico: 'We have a good place'
By KAREN CLARK

Oil City superintendent says economic ranking has no effect on the quality of education.

Oil City school district superintendent Joe Carrico says being dirt poor just doesn't cut it when it comes to children's talents.

"Poor doesn't make you stupid, lazy or criminal. It just means you don't have as much money as everyone else," said Carrico during the Monday evening school board meeting.

Carrico was addressing a newspaper article which appeared several weeks ago that identified Oil City as the tenth poorest among the 501 school district in the state, based on a formula that uses real estate value and personal income to determine a school district's wealth.

"This ranking is not a ranking anyone wants to be a part of, but it is indicative of the paradigm shift that took place in this community about 20 years ago," said Carrico.

Although the economic factors in the community are not the same as two decades ago before large industry began to exit and the population decreased by nearly 50 percent, the area still fosters a positive environment to live and learn, Carrico added.

"We have a good place. Ninety two percent of our kids come to school everyday and 85 percent are graduating. And, it is safe. We do not have a daily concern for the safety, health and welfare of our students and faculty," he said.

Board touches on budget

Budget talks have been under way for several months and a tentative budget approved earlier this year included an estimated increase of more than $500,000 in revenue due to the school's poor economic ranking.

Monday evening business manager Susan Fisher said a preliminary budget would be discussed at the May committee meeting with approval to be requested at the regular board meeting.

Fisher said numbers still showed a deficit of about $81,000, but the tabulations for the recent retirement requests were not factored into the payroll expenses, and those amounts should be favorable to overcome the shortfall.

School board members approved retirement requests Monday for Elizabeth Jenkins, high school English teacher, Shirley Scott, third grade teacher at Seventh Street and Dan Brown, middle school math teacher. The approval brings the total for the year to eight.

Planning continues on summer work projects in the district buildings. Carrico said some needs are immediate and non-negotiable, while others will be addressed as time and money permit. On the list of potential projects are:

 Smedley Street: exterior gym doors and blacktop

Seventh Street: remove brick dumpster out front, chimney work, entrance way, new wheelchair lift, approved at a cost of $18,000 which will be covered by Access funds.

Oakland: rear entrance, new front railing and water filtration 

Hasson Heights: parking lot, soffit and fascia, new boilers, two rooms of windows. ��I don��t want you to have any surprises, this is a huge investment,�� said Carrico. 

Warehouse on East Second Street.  "We would like to see some aesthetics here. I believe if the district is going to own property, we should take care of it. Coming into town, it is the first impression you get of the Oil City Area School District," he said.

An update on the athletic complex project will be given at the May meeting.

The May meetings will be moved to the second and third Mondays due to the Memorial Day holiday. The committee meeting will be May 12 with the regular board meeting May 19. This will also allow the district the required window for advertisement of the preliminary budget, which will be finalized at the June meeting.