LH school board approves tentative budget
The Laurel Highlands School Board approved spending funds for various improvements and positions at Wednesday night’s regular meeting. In addition to passing a tentative 2006-07 budget without a tax increase, the board also approved various expenditures with a breakdown as follows: a $3,000 yearly salary for high school assistant principal Jesse Wallace for his role as building and grounds director; $500 each year for three years to 17 district secretaries (the agreement was reached after months of negotiations with the union); $41,472 on fall sports uniforms and equipment for the 2006-07 school year; and $4,944 to recondition football equipment.
The board also approved spending $9,700 in the ventilation work to the middle school and $41,987 on the paving projects for parking lots and entryways at Marshall Elementary School and the high school. North Union Township entered into a cooperative agreement for this paving.
The board also approved paying Cardale Electric $6,363 to replace outdoor light poles and fixtures at Marshall school.
This work, among other items, is being paid for through funds included in the school district’s current debt of $38.4 million.
School district Superintendent Dr. Ronald Sheba clarified that the school district’s debt has accrued over the past 20 years and the funds have been spent on several projects ranging from a complete addition to Clark Elementary School, an addition and complete renovations to the middle school, new windows and roof in Hatfield Elementary School, new windows, roof and an addition to Marshall Elementary School last year and the Hutchinson renovation and addition project.
Sheba said the school district did not take out a $38.4 million loan to renovate Hutchinson Elementary School, as previously reported.
In light of a zero-tax increase budget, Sheba said he feels “pretty good” about the district’s financial standing.
In the tentative 2006-07 budget, the Laurel Highlands School District is scheduled to transfer $3,451,760 to the debt services fund, not $470,980 as previously reported.
Also, the district is budgeted to spend $3,521,041 in special education during the 2006-07 school year, not $387,442 also as previously reported. The numbers previously reported were increases from the 2005-06 budget to the 2006-07 tentative budget.
The board also conducted the following business:
– With regret, accepted the retirement of William Ainsley, principal of Hatfield Elementary School, effective on the last workday of this school year in June. The board said Ainsley has 34 years of dedicated service to the school district. The board wished him well. The board has not yet decided who will replace Ainsley.
– Authorized the posting of the middle school cross country coach.
– Granted permission to begin a pilot middle school softball program in which the coach will volunteer in the first year of the program, though, cautioned school board President Edward S. George, costs will be incurred with the start of the program.
– Authorized district engineer John Over to advertise for bids for work to improve the high school stadium roadway and entrance for safety reasons.
– Adopted the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School’s tentative 2006-07 budget in the amount of $4,317,516. Laurel Highlands share is $607,411 of that amount.
– Tabled a motion to take action on the salaries of “confidential” employees until the next regular meeting scheduled for June 21 at 7 p.m. After the board decided to table the motion, George apologized to the board, stating that he “did not have a clear view coming out of executive session” where the board stood on the issue.