Endeavor's Neat Numbers

65M

Port Allegany School District expects to spend about $6.5 million to renovate and expand its elementary school. The district has built a sizable capital projects reserve. Officials plan to issue a $5 million bond issue to cover the majority of the expense.

43

There are 43 adults serving as volunteer coaches for the sports program at St. Marys Area School District. Sixty percent of the student population is involved in sports.

The figures came to light when some parents suggested the district slash its allotment for paid coaching positions so another kindergarten teacher could be hired. Although the Pa. Education Dept. recommends a ratio of one teacher for every 18 students, the policy at St. Marys allows a ratio of 1:25. School officials said few districts in Intermediate Unit 9 meet the 1:15 ratio.

50

Only about 50% of Americans who are eligible to vote are even registered. Voter turnout at elections often is below 50% which means that less than 25% of the people are deciding the public agenda. Of those 25%, many are motivated by personal interest or party politics.

State Assemblyman Dan Surra of Elk County used the occasion of a Veterans Day school assembly last week to describe that situation as "shameful."

7.25

With the Democrats gaining more power in Congress, many experts expect to see the minimum wage increase from the current $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.

Republicans will likely push for exceptions in the law to exempt small businesses from immediate compliance. Pennsylvania joining the growing number of states that took matters into their own hands as Congress failed to act.

The state legislature passed a bill increasing the minimum wage to $6.25, effective Jan. 1, 2007. It rises to $7.15 on July 1. Small businesses operating with 10 or fewer employees only have to pay $5.65 per hour as of Jan. 1., $6.65 by July 1, 2007, and $7.15 by July 1, 2008.

34

Another Democrat-backed measure would reduce the interest rate on federal loans for college students from the current 6.8 to 3.4 percent.

85

Few area residents are familiar with the services of the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) of Northwestern Pa. Those ATA buses are available to everyone - there's a common misconception that they're only for clients of human services. Anyone between 13 and 65 with a disability gets an 85% discount on fares. All passengers 65 and older also get 85% off. A new computer system allows dispatchers to track the ATA buses. The screen can communicate how fast the bus is traveling, how many passengers are aboard and whether those passengers were picked up on time, among other information.

3

Emporium's Kwik Fill on East Allegheny Avenue is closed for three weeks to allow for extensive remodeling. New pumps are being installed and a diesel tank and canopy added.

50

Fifty senior citizens have received $50 gift certificates from grocery stores in Galeton, Ulysses, Genesee, Shinglehouse and Coudersport to help offset the cost of their holiday meal.

Ed Clancy, former owner of Penn Valley Resort in Genesee, donated the $2,500 to the Potter County Department of Aging to help needy seniors purchase food for their Thanksgiving dinner. Clancy said he encourages the recipients to count their blessings and spend quality time with family and friends over the holiday season.