Connellsville school board adopts 2017-18 budget
CONNELLSVILLE — The Connellsville Area School Board on Wednesday adopted a $75.4 million budget that does not include a tax increase for 2017-18.
Board members unanimously voted in favor of the final budget, tax levy resolution and Homestead and Farmstead exclusion resolution.
The budget is $4 million greater that the current budget, but maintains the current 14.24-mill real estate tax rate.
Revenue includes $50.2 million from the state, $19.4 million from local taxes and $4 million from the federal government.
Included in the revenue is a projected $750,000 from the sale of the three elementary schools that will be closed following the school year and a $650,000 increase in basic and special education subsidies.
Expenditures include $27.1 million for salaries, $19.1 million for benefits, $17.6 million for purchased services, $8 million for debt service, $2.9 million for supplies and $607,000 for equipment.
The cost of employee benefits in the budget is $2 million more than in the current budget, and salaries increase by almost $300,000 in the new budget, district officials said.
Other cost increases in the budget include a 9.5 percent increase in health care, a 2.5 percent increase in pensions to 8.6 million and a 2.9 percent rise in purchased services. The cost of instruction will be $43.6 million, or 58 percent of the budget, officials said.
A building improvement project will save $300,000, last year’s bond refinancing will save $87,000 and the district’s cyber school program will save $300,000, officials said.
Only $208,000 of the $5.3 million fund balance is unassigned, officials said. The rest is committed to future pension and health care expenses, officials said.
In addition, the board approved the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center budget of $4.3 million for the next school year.
In other business, the board:
n Hired Charles Michael as special education/student services director with no increase in salary for the 2017-18 school year and commended Lisa Hampe, who will resign from the position on Aug. 4, for her years of work for the district.
n Hired Jennifer Sanzone as middle school principal for next year at an annual salary of $91,013.
n Hired Stephanie Romanishan as elementary school principal for next year at an annual salary of $89,889.
n Hired Miki Martucci as school nurse for next year. Board member Daniel Martucci abstained from the vote because he is a relative.
n Hired Brian Strickler as a biology/chemistry teacher for next year.
n Hired Carrie Detwiler as a health assistant instructor for next year. Board member Gary Wandel abstained because Detwiler is his daughter.
n Changed Michael Parlak’s title from director of security to director of security/attendance coordinator and raised his base pay to $57,335 for next year.
n Approved a 60-month lease with Ford Business Machines for print management services for $19,000 a month, which is $9,857 cheaper than the current payment and a $118,284 annual savings with the exoneration of $50,677 in overage charges.
n Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette to operate Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs at Connellsville Township Elementary School for $43,200.
n Purchased errors and omissions insurance from broker Defurio, Mongell and Associates for $194,673. Board member Francis Mongell abstained.
n Purchased workers’ compensation insurance from broker Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. for the estimated annual premium of $232,712.
n Awarded the Eleanor E. Roland Memorial Scholarship of $3,249 to Ryan Mowry.
n Announced that teacher Michelle Dillinger and faculty manager Danny Boggs resigned and CACTC teacher Donna Benzito retired.
n Rehired Anna Deforest, English language arts coach for grades kindergarten through 12, at $400 a day from Title 1 and Title II funds for up to 150 days. Board members Jams Duncan and Mongell voted against the motion.
n Rehired Barbara Mehalov at $400 a day from Title 1 and Title II funds for up to 15 days a month. Duncan and Mongell voted against the motion.