May 21, 2003 By Kris Schiffbauer 3 min read

Uniontown Area School Board passed a tentative 2003-2004 budget that calls for level taxes. The board voted unanimous in favor of the proposed $31,862,078 spending plan and set an adoption date for June 24.

The tentative budget includes $17,441,621 for instruction, $10,969,593 for support services, $526,262 for operation of non-instructional services and $2,924,602 for other financing uses.

Director William Rittenhouse Jr., who heads the finance/personnel committee, said the tentative budget is balanced, with no need for a tax increase. However, he noted the board will have two more chances to make changes when it meets for the monthly work session and regular business meeting before the special meeting to adopt a final budget.

In other business, the school board voted to accept three sites in a tax-free zone in the city of Uniontown and added one of its own to the list.

The motion to accept Marshall Park, the Uniontown Public Library parking lot and the Cornish building at 11 W. Main St. in the Keystone Opportunity Zone passed with six yes votes. Director Ken Meadows and Rittenhouse voted no and director Ronald Machesky passed on voting. The three sites were already approved by the city council and brought to the school board’s attention. However, the motion by director Tammy Boyle added the school district’s Central School building at 23 E. Church St. that currently houses administration offices.

The school board recently purchased the Career Link building on Iowa Street, and plans to soon relocate the administration offices there. Members have yet to vote on what to do with Central School.

Councilman Gary Crozier, who attended the meeting Monday night, said council would need to vote on the school district’s building.

Machesky wanted to add the stipulation that the school district’s building be included or none of the sites get the school board’s approval. The motion simply listed the four sites and included no contingencies.

Rittenhouse talked about concerns he has over the fairness of picking and choosing tax-free sites. He said he can appreciate the intent of the KOZ to spur economic development but is concerned that established businesses will have to compete with the KOZ sites.

Board members discussed work planned for the Iowa Street building.

Director Dorothy Grahek, who heads the buildings and grounds committee, said the school board earmarked about $540,000 for renovations of the office space, but the plans were cut back to about $140,000 worth of work that includes $58,000 for portable walls for individual work stations.

She said the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system needs some work and the electrical wiring needs to be updated for the school district’s computers. Otherwise, she said the building needs a thorough interior and exterior cleaning.

Rittenhouse asked for definite costs and design documents on the Iowa Street building.

In other business, the school board:

– Accepted the retirement notices of R. Paul Renninger, an elementary teacher at A.J. McMullen School, and Barry Ackinclose, a technology education teacher at the high school. Both retirements were made effective June 9. Superintendent Charles Machesky noted each of the teachers has more than 30 years of service in the district.

– AApproved a third retirement from Barbara Marker, a teacher’s aide at Marclay School.

– Gave a nod to the creation and posting of a speech/language pathologist position to be assigned to Benjamin Franklin School, the high school, New Directions and Lafayette school.

– Approved the final reading of the policy on overnight/out-of-state trips for extracurricular activities and sports. Grahek said the policy primarily concerns chaperones and the requirement that they stay with students at all times.