May 23, 2018 4 min read

Belle Vernon School Board failed to pass a preliminary budget Monday that included a tax increase.

The board voted 5-4 to reject the proposed budget, which called for $38.53 million in expenses, an increase from last year’s $37.16 million. This proposed budget included a 84.25 millage rate for Westmoreland County residents, a 2.61-mill increase and a rate of 20.15 mills for Fayette County residents, a .62-mill increase.

Director Aaron Bialon made a motion to pass the preliminary budget with no tax increase, but the motion failed due to a lack of a second. Vice President John Nusser Jr. made the motion to vote on the budget as is and Secretary Daniel Sepesky seconded the motion. “I second it so we don’t have to lay off and cut programs,” Sepesky said.

The increase in spending is due to salary increases for teachers spelled out in their contract, increases in retirement contributions and cyber school tuition payments, said business manager James Dzurica.

Bialon, and directors Michelle Callaway-Rodriguez, Joe Grata, Joel Whiteko and Gloria Yuschak voted no on the preliminary budget. Sepesky, President Lou Rood, Nusser and director Kathleen Forte voted yes. Nusser said the district has a net deficit of roughly $1.1 million.

“Without a tax increase, it will just not pyramid up where you need it to be and the deficit will be increasingly large,” Nusser said, adding about $600,000 was cut from the budget.

The board will hold a special budget meeting at 7 p.m. May 29 at the administration building, where another budget vote will be taken. Rood said the board must pass a preliminary budget by May 31.

The board voted 8-1 to approve the monthly stipend of $2,500 for Dr. Michele Dowell for her work as acting superintendent, with Bialon voting no. Rood said it would cost the district $450 to $500 per day to bring in an acting superintendent from outside of the district. Dowell was named acting superintendent last week after superintendent John Wilkinson resigned earlier this month.

He said this number was determined through discussions between himself, district solicitor Ira Weiss and Dowell. “I thought it would provide significant savings to the school board when we are already in a budget crunch as is,” Rood said.

The board also voted 8-1 to approve the monthly stipend of Deidra Stepko as acting princicpal at Marion Elementary, with Bialon voting no.

The board voted 7-2 to approve a number of proposed improvements to the school buildings totaling more than $100,000. These proposals included projects such as theatrical rigging and lighting upgrades at the middle school, purchasing new choir robes and new art tables for the high school. Bialon and Sepesky voted no.

Grata said these projects will be paid for out of the $3.1 million bond issue the board approved last year and would not be coming out of the general fund budget. Sepesky said he believes more money should be spent on securing district buildings.

“We’re spending a lot of money. I just think it’s being directed in the wrong way right now,” Sepesky said. Rood said R.W. Sleighter Engineers and Architect wants to meet with the board in an executive session to discuss security proposals.

The firm presented a conceptual model to the board last week, which included outfitting school entrances with bulletproof glass and walls. However, the cost to upgrade one entrance is estimated at $300,000.

Grata said “$118,000 seems to be a small price to pay for things that have been long overdue with regards to the arts.” He said the board wants to promote the arts because it is a vital segment of what the district offers.

The board voted 7-2 to reject all submitted bids for the locker room upgrades project and authorized R.W. Sleighter to advertise for new bids which will open on June 15th. Bialon and Nusser voted against the rejection.