At its Jan. 12 meeting, the school board tackled the differences between financially supporting athletics and the arts, listened to a plea centered around the swim team and discussed new laws possibly affecting FHS in the future. The school board discussed funding for as many as six FHS students to attend regional and state band and chorus competitions. Because the district is no longer funding state academic and art competitions, the board agreed to financially support students only to regional ensembles. The district does support sending track, cross country and wrestling individuals to state competitions. Board member Mr. Gary Gilarno said if football were to make it to the state competition, he would undoubtedly wish to support the team financially as well. Mr. Gilarno claimed comparing chorus and band to football is like comparing apples to oranges. A member of the community and a substitute teacher, Mrs. Carol-Lynn Dubovi spoke to the board on behalf of the swim team. She presented the possibility of re-opening the pool by illuminating the potential of swimming lessons, aerobics and aqua clubs to bring in funding. The board, however, said that without definitive sources of money through a grant or something similar, the pool would remain closed due to budget cuts. Ms. Rita Kaplin, a school counselor at FHS, also presented the district’s new guidance web page, accessible from the school’s home page. The new website includes quizzes for determining majors, available scholarships and other tools designed with students preparing for life after high school in mind. The board also discussed the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent legislation saying that districts no longer have to pay pre-schooling costs for 4-year-olds within the district. Because the Supreme Court did not specify when this change would take place, PA Cyber programs are still charging districts the cost of schooling the children. Currently, Slippery Rock school district is petitioning to have this date specified so districts can discontinue paying for pre-schooling. The next board meeting will be held Feb. 9, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the middle school library.