May 20, 2013 2 min read

Trinity Area School Board approved a $46,328,080 2013-14 budget with no tax increase Thursday.

To meet the preliminary budget, the school district plans to replace just five of the nine teachers who recently retired and will not replace five aides.

The proposed budget also will borrow $570,039 from the fund balance, leaving a projected fund balance of $1.9 million, according to Jim Shargots, director of fiscal services.

An earlier motion to approve the preliminary budget with a 1-mill tax increase failed by a 3-3 vote.

Directors Penny Caleffe, Scott Day and Jennifer Morgan voted in favor of the tax increase, while Sandra Clutter, Colleen Interval and Tamara Salvatori opposed.

Directors unanimously approved the second option which included holding the millage rate steady.

One mill generates about $215,000 and would have reduced the amount borrowed from the fund balance, Shargots said.

If the budget is adopted at the June 20 meeting, it will be the eighth year in a row that the millage rate will remain at 103.

The proposed budget will be available for public review in the business office during regular business hours.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of board member Shawn Mulac, who submitted his resignation at the end of April citing work obligations.

Also, the board hired Aaron Scott as director of tranportation and buildings and grounds at an annual salary of $55,000. Scott. a graduate of Trinity High School, currently is employed in the school district’s maintenance department.

In another matter, the board discussed moving principal Jack Minnick from Trinity East to another school, a move that some Trinity East parents opposed during the public comment section of the meeting. An online petition to keep Minnick at Trinity East, where he has served as principal for the past six years, has garnered more than 160 signatures.