School Budget Decisions Come Down to Next Monday's Vote

Whether the Pine-Richland School Board increases the tax rate, restores paraeducator positions into the budget or makes moves to decrease class sizes will all come down to a vote Monday, June 13.

A straw poll taken at a finance committee meeting Monday night showed the school directors split on what to do, with two directors absent.

The nearly three-hour meeting saw a sometimes animated debate among school directors on what to do with the proposed $63 million budget for the 2011-12 school year.

Members of the public made one more plea to restore funding for paraeducators and work toward reducing class sizes.

"We're here to listen," school board Treasurer Dennis Sundo, who is chair of the finance committee, told the full room at the beginning of the meeting.

He explained that the school board had approved a preliminary budget that included no tax increase and the final budget would be voted upon June 13 in a meeting at Eden Hall Upper Elementary.

Sundo said he had voted consistently against that budget and he called for seven paraeducator positions to be restored.

If the board increased taxes by one-half of a percent, it would bring in more than $200,000 -- enough to pay for the seven paraeducators, he said. A 1 percent increase in the millage rate would net $423,000, he added.

For a homeowner with a house valued at the district median of $177,000, the one-half percent increase would cost an extra $19 per home in taxes, said Sundo.

"I would support that absolutely," said Director Kevin Nigh. "I would go farther than that."

Director Richard Herko said he was torn about changes to the budget. He also emphasized that he meant no disrespect to the administration because it had provided the board with exactly what its members asked for -- a budget with no tax increase.

He said Pine-Richland could gain $200,000-plus in restored state spending, but a final vote has not been taken by state lawmakers.

"I say we plow every penny of that into special needs," he said. "I can't support the budget the way it stands now."

Director Christine Misback asked what would happen if the planned-upon state monies did not materialize.

The board could then use its reserve or fund balance, administrators said.

Director Dr. Jeffrey Banyas said he favored restoring two paraeducator positions and putting the rest of the anticipated state revenue into reducing class size.

Sundo recommended adding the state revenue into the budget to pay for the seven paraeducator positions and his straw poll showed Directors Nigh, Misback and Herko agreed.

But five school board directors' votes are needed to pass the budget. 

Sundo also questioned Superintendent Dr. Mary Bucci's estimates for class sizes, saying he thought they were low. 

A general discussion ensued in which several board members said they did not know what "the right number" is for class size.

School Board President Stephen Hawbaker said the spectators at Monday's meeting were a small percentage of the public and that the board will vote on a budget that affects all students and all taxpayers.

He then apologized and told the audience, "I'm thankful that you are here."

Nigh said the public input that he had seen did not exude a strong feeling of residents not wanting their taxes raised.

"I'm looking at what's right for our kids, what's right for our taxpayers," he said.

In his encounters with Pine-Richland residents in general -- in the grocery store and on the soccer field -- he said he had not had one person come up to him and tell him not to raises taxes.

Nigh asked Director of Finance and School Services Dana Siford how much was cut from the schools budget last year.

Siford answered that $7 million in cuts were needed -- the board cut $4 million in expenses and raised $3 million in taxes to cover the needs.

Nigh said that when that amount is added to the $1.5 million in cuts needed for the coming school year, the board has cut more than $5 million in the last two years.

Though he does not have hard data to prove his point, he said, "Anecdotally, I think we're starting on a backslide."

Some parent speakers said they felt their children's education had suffered during the past year for various reasons, including larger class sizes. Others spoke in favor of restoring the paraeductor positions and decreasing class sizes.

Ann Hynds of Pine Township said she opposed a tax increase.

"We have to be prudent," she said, adding she was shocked that the night's discussion had included the possible addition of teachers (to reduce class size).

She said the district has an "extraordinary" amount of debt -- $127 million with $10 million of that paid annually -- and that growth has slowed in the district and the state retirement system costs are going up.

"The crisis lies ahead of us," she said.

There was overwhelming agreement among the speakers that Pine-Richland has a reputation as an excellent school district that has a great special needs program.