Schools

PR School Board Votes 5-4 to Restore Music and Other Programs to Proposed Budget

A 4.308 percent tax increase will be needed to balance the proposed 2012-13 budget. The physical education program loses 5.5 teaching positions under this plan.

Applause filled the room Monday around midnight when the Pine-Richland School Board voted 5-4 to adopt a $66.8 million proposed final 2012-13 budget that preserves 9.5 teaching positions in music and other areas.

However, it will take a 4.308 percent tax increase and the elimination of 5.5 physical education teaching positions to make the budget balance.

The proposed budget will now be available for public review—the final vote for adoption of a budget and the setting of the millage rate is June 25.

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About 200-plus people filled Pine-Richland High School's auditorium Monday night to urge the board not to cut programs in music, art, family consumer science, elementary/advanced language arts, and physical education.

Speakers included 12-year-old singing star Jackie Evancho and her father, Mike Evancho, who stressed the importance of physical education, music and the arts.

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Another local celebrity who addressed the board was NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's Larry Richert of Pine Township. He urged the board not to cut the physical education program, as he referred to a Newsweek article about obesity in children.

Less than a week ago, the board's finance committee recommended a budget that called for a 3.2 percent tax increase and cuts that included 15 teaching positions.

Treasurer Dennis Sundo, who chairs the finance committee, recommended restoring the $480,752 in cuts that affect music, art, family consumer science, and elementary/advanced language arts instruction.

Voting in favor of the budget were Sundo, Katie Shogan, Laura Ohlund, Virginia Goebel, and Kevin Nigh.

Voting against were President Stephen Hawbaker, Vice President Jeffrey Banyas, Peter Lyons and Therese Dawson. 

In a marathon meeting that ended at 12:35 a.m., the school board voted for a budget that has expenditures of $66,849,169 and total revenues of $66,376,549 and a fund balance utilization of $472,619.

The proposed 4.308 percent tax increase would bring the millage rate to 22.8522. 

"Pine-Richland School District is trying to find a way to reduce expenditures with the least impact to students," Communications Director Rachel Hathhorn wrote in a statement released at the end of the meeting.

"Pine-Richland is experiencing what many districts have been experiencing nationwide for several years. While we’ve trimmed our budget over the past few years, we’ve been fortunate not to have to cut teaching positions up to this point," Hathhorn continued. "We will continue providing a strong academic program for our students."

 

Check back with Patch later for a more complete story, photos and video ... after the editor gets some sleep :-)


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