May 23, 2014 By Toni Cekada for The 3 min read

CALIFORNIA — Members of the California Area School Board approved a tentative expenditure budget on Wednesday that reflects about a $400,000 increase from the present fiscal year.

Business Manager Julie Mascia said the $14,735,516 tentative expenditure budget was increased from

$14,312,713 for the present year to cover a 5 percent increase in health insurance, and a 4 percent increase in retirement costs.

Mascia said the board is considering raising taxes to the state index, which would be a 3 percent increase of 2.73 mills. The current millage in the district is set at 91.07 mills, and if the millage is increased to the index, taxpayers could expect to see a new millage set at 93.8.

“Expenditures continue to increase,” Mascia said. “We do not want to deplete the fund balance.”

Mascia was also approved for another five-year contract with the district. She was also appointed as treasurer for the 2014-15 school year.

In other matters, the board approved the retirement of seventh-grade math teacher Renee Hajdu. Hajdu will retire June 9 under the early retirement incentive, which means she will be taking health insurance coverage with a co-pay of $100 per month, plus any rate increases until the employee is eligible for Medicare benefits.

The board then appointed Maria Wadsworth to a three-hour cafeteria position, effective immediately, with a salary set at $12.82 per hour.

The board also hired Kevin Gergely as a summer technology worker. He will assist the technology director during the break for a cost not to exceed $2,000.

The following rates were approved for substitute teacher rates for the 2014-15 school year: 1-30 days, $85 per day; 31-90 days, $90 per day; and 91-180 days, $100 per day.

A proposal received from Bollinger Insurance for all sports and accident insurance for the 2014-15 school year was also approved by the board. The proposal was written by Monumental Life Insurance Company, and reveals a maximum benefit of $5,000,000 over a benefit period of ten years plus $1,500,000 athletic disability benefit to age 65. The proposal includes a premium amount of $11,183, which is a $273 increase from the present year.

Meanwhile, the board also approved two donation requests. One request of $1,500 was approved for the high school yearbook, and a second request of $1,500 was approved for the high school newspaper, The Burgundian. Board member Karin Watson opposed both motions.

Also, the board approved hosting an Intermediate Unit 1 autistic support/life skills support classroom to begin at the start of the 2014-15 school year.

Superintendent Brian Jackson said the classroom will be located in the elementary school, and will be for district and out-of-district students.

In other matters,

n The varsity boys baseball team will play against Carmichaels at 8 p.m. on Tuesday for the WPIAL championship. The game will be held at the Washington Wild Things field.

n The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, in the high school library.