Brownsville school board boosts property taxes
BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville Area School Board approved a $23 million budget for the upcoming school year that includes a .75 real estate tax increase. At Monday’s meeting, board members voted 7-1 in favor of the budget, with school director Stella Broadwater casting the dissenting vote. Directors John Harvey, Sandra Chan, Ellen Rohrer, R. W. “Rocky” Brashear, John Evans, Francine Pavone and Ronald Dellarose voted in favor, while director Andy Dorsey was absent.
The increase will set the tax rate at 12.147 mills in Fayette County and 68.317 mills in Washington County.
That means Fayette County property owners will pay $121.47 for every $10,000 in assessed property value. A person with property valued at $50,000 will pay $605 a year in real estate taxes.
The district originally approved a $25 million tentative budget but was able to shave off about $2 million in expenses to cut costs.
Board members also voted to furlough four part-time cafeteria positions, citing the layoffs as a cost-cutting measure.
District Superintendent Dr. Philip Savini said the furloughs would be given according to seniority and that those laid off will be given first consideration if the board decides to hire in the future.
In other business, board members voted unanimously to hire 11 teachers. Those hired Monday are as follows: Daniel Kovacic, music; Anthony Salvucci, high school social studies; Chad Gaster, elementary physical education; Natalie DeCarlo, special education; Marissa Chambers, special education; Jennifer Novak, elementary education; Scott Hruby, elementary education; Erin Tisot, elementary education; Kim Potts, elementary education; Kellie Polvinale, elementary education; and Tiffany Logan, elementary education.
The board also voted to award tenure to 26 teachers who completed three successful years of teaching resulting in tenure rights.
In unrelated business, board members agreed to pay K-2 Engineering of Uniontown an additional $4,296 for engineering work done for the district.
The motion was approved by a 7-1 vote, with Broadwater voting against the payment. Broadwater said the district agreed to pay K-2 no more than $8,000 for the work and that K-2 should have alerted the district if the cost was to exceed that amount.
Broadwater also said the K-2 should have submitted a more detailed bill.
As for other matters, the board failed to pass a motion permitting Christopher McManus to attend the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference in Madison, Wis, at a cost of $2,000 to be paid with grant money after a motion by Chan failed for lack of a second.
The board also conducted the following business:
– Gave permission for Sherry Kottke, food service director, to attend a conference at Seven Springs at a cost of $332 to be paid for with money from the general fund. The motion passed 7-1 with Broadwater voting no. The board also unanimously approved a three-year contract with Kottke, setting her annual salary at $46,000 with raises in increments of $3,000 per year.
– Agreed to purchase science books and support material for elementary schools from MacMillan/McGraw-Hill Publishers at a cost of $80,974 and also agreed to purchase science books and support materials for secondary schools from Holt McDougal at a cost of $44,550.
– Elected Rohrer treasurer effective July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.
– Hired five assistant football coaches, an assistant volleyball coach, a head middle school soccer coach and a strength coach.