THE HOPEWELL AREA SCHOOL BOARD MET LAST NIGHT AND ADOPTED ITS 2016-17 budget of $39-million dollars. According to Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano, real estate taxes will be 72.2 mills. The millage is an increase of 2.2 mills from 2015-16.

Giordano says that the board adopted a resolution requesting that the county’s chief assesor direct inspection and reassessment of all taxable properties within the district to which major improvements were made after 9/1/15. Those properties were not included in the tax duplicate for fiscal year 7/1/16 and ending 6/30/17.

The district hired Keelen Fiedler as InnovateED teacher to head the STEAM program for grades 5 through 8 in the district.

Deborah Skiba was hired as a transportation nurse effective May 26, 2016, The purpose of the hiring was to transport students to a Pediatric facility at the former Johnson Street School when necessary.

The board’s next meeting is July 26 at 7 p.m. in the Central Administration Building.