By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - In coming years, taxpayers in the Brandywine Community Schools District could see a drop in the rate of their 4.85 millage rate if the district decides it is beneficial to refinance its bonds.
At Monday evening's Brandywine Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Gary Rider was given the authority to refinance part of the $14.4 million bond the district's taxpayers approved in 2003.
Brandywine Director of Business and Finance Sue Furney explained to the Board that with short-term interest rates currently increasing, this may be the time in which the district should refinance portions of the bond.
In other business, the board approved two trips at the high school for students to participate in.
The first trip approved is part of the Dutch Exchange program. In October, 12 students from the Netherlands came to Niles and were able to experience the American way of life.
The second trip approved Monday by the board is the economics class trip to Ecuador.
Bishop added the 21 students going on the trip have also been working hard to fundraise to cut the cost of their November 2006 trip down.