Resident criticizes Uniontown school board on $43 million project
An opponent of the Uniontown Area School Board’s plan to spend $43 million on a renovation/construction project at Uniontown Area High School asked directors Tuesday to consider spending that money on all the schools in the district in need of repair. The Rev. Peter Malik referred to a study done by Altman & Altman Architects about the life cycle of district facilities. He noted that the life cycle for Benjamin Franklin School expires in 2010, while the Lafayette cycle expires in 2007 and A.J. McMullen School has exceeded its life cycle but has not been renovated.
“If you are going to remodel these schools, then I hate to think about the taxes we’re going to pay since our taxes are going to go up 2.83 mills to pay for the high school,” he said.
In reading the bond issue, Malik said the “project” is defined as renovating the high school and “various other capital improvement projects throughout the school district.”
After speaking with Architect Mark Altman, Malik said the bond issue could be spent on renovations to the remaining schools in the district and address the needs at the high school.
“You could stop this high school project and spend that money improving Ben Franklin, Lafayette, A.J. McMullen and the high school,” he said. “Use the money for all the schools.”
He also reminded the board about bids for the Marclay School project, which came in 30 percent higher than projected when they were submitted in November.
“If you are going to have 30 percent overages, how are you going to pay for that?” Malik said.
Near the end of his comments, he told board members that his protest against the board’s plan is not personal, but he will continue to express his opinion that the project is not good for the taxpayers of the school district.
“We are opponents on this, but I do not consider you enemies,” he said. “We’ve been arguing about this, but I have no hatred for any of you.”
Chuck Thomas of Menallen Township said that even though teachers were involved in the development of the high school project, he’s never heard a teacher tell him that a new building will make their job easier.
“Their problems are lack of parental guidance, parental interference and discipline problems,” he said. “Are we out of line to expect better grades after this new school is built?”
Thomas said he is not opposed to increasing teacher salaries, but the taxpayers should get a return on their investment if they pay for a new high school.
“If you can improve grades and test scores because of the new building, I don’t have a problem with that, but if you can’t do that, then I have a problem paying taxes for it,” he said.
Board President Harry “Dutch” Kaufman said there is confusion about the millage impact for the bond issue. He said it is unfair to say that the board will raise taxes 2.7 mills to pay for the project, when the board has worked to reduce other costs in the budget to help cover some of the project costs.
“Just because it says that it will take 2.7 mills doesn’t mean we’re going to increase your taxes 2.7 mills,” he said. “It doesn’t happen and it won’t happen.”
Superintendent Dr. Charles Machesky said the 2.7 mill figure would be realistic if the board took no action to curb other expenditures.
“We’re trying our best, but these are the kinds of things we have to do to be accountable to the taxpayers,” he said. “We try to offset the impact with saving wherever we can, without jeopardizing the educational program.”
In other business, the board authorized solicitor Michael Brungo to give notice to the Southwest Regional Tax Bureau (SWRTB) so that the district can solicit proposals from agencies interested in collecting the district’s earned income tax.
Brungo explained after the meeting that the notice had to be given before Sept. 30 in keeping with the district’s agreement with SWRTB. He noted that the notice is required before the district can begin reviewing proposals, which may include a new offer from SWRTB.
If the board does not continue to contract with SWRTB, the bureau will still have an agreement with the district until Jan. 1 and will be responsible for collecting earned income taxes until April 15, 2006.
The board combined its work session and meeting Tuesday and will not meet Monday. The next board work session is scheduled for Oct. 11, with the next business meeting slated for Oct. 17.