Announced that a page will be placed on the district’s website, www.southbutler.org, where taxpayers can comment on the preliminary budget passed on Wednesday night. District solicitor Tom Breth advised the board and administration to explain on the page that all comments could be shown publicly.

Approved a $65,441 donation from the Knoch Knights Legacies Foundation to the school district.

Approved a resolution that supports House and Senate bills in Harrisburg that would require students to use the district’s cyber school if they choose to stop attending school and sign up for a cyber or charter school. The school district would not be required to pay for students’ education in a separate cyber school. Identical resolutions are being considered by all 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. Currently, school districts must pay cyber and charter schools for students who live in the district.

Approved the Best Buddies program, which pairs regular education students with special education students on the secondary level. The purpose of the program at South Butler will be to ensure special education students who are significantly challenged are included in school social activities. Superintendent David Foley said there would be 16 pairs of students at South Butler. Nonspecial education students who sign up for the program will attend training in Indianapolis with other students from Western Pennsylvania. Foley stressed that nonspecial education students will be required to be diligent and dedicated if they participate in the program. “It’s not just a resume-builder,” Foley said.

Heard Foley stress that a dedicated room for school board meetings will not be included in the district’s future renovation plans. Foley said the feasibility study presented Tuesday night by Terry Thompson of The Foreman Group might be placed on the district’s website in the near future for public perusal.