Jun 19, 2014 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Area School Board Monday adopted a 2014-15 budget with a tax increase of 0.7 mill and hired an assistant principal and 11 new teachers.

The budget of $15,560,370 includes an increase in spending of 1.75 percent or about $267,000, business manager Amy Todd said. It will increase property taxes from 22.05 to 22.75 mills.

The board agreed to raise taxes to pay debt service on bonds issued for the district’s school renovation project. Debt service was projected to increase about $100,000. This year’s increase, however, will be covered by proceeds of a bond refinancing approved at a special meeting last week.

The refinancing of the 2008 bond issue on the elementary construction was expected to raise about $100,000. Todd reported Thursday the sale of the bonds raised about $123,000.

Major increases in spending in the budget include retirement costs, which increased about $204,000; Intermediate Unit services for cyberschool and an English as second language program, $150,000; and health insurance, which will increase about $20,000.

The district also will pay about $40,000 more to the Greene County Career and Technology Center because it expects to increase the number of students enrolled in center courses from 65 to 75.

The district will see a savings in salaries. Fifteen staff members retired this year, including Superintendent Craig Baily, and their replacements will be hired at lower salaries.

The proposed 0.7 mill tax increase is the maximum the district is allowed under the inflationary index established under the Taxpayer Relief Act. This year, property owners eligible for the homestead exception will be able to subtract $229.35 from their property tax bill.

In other business, the board hired Ronald Gallagher as assistant junior-senior high principal, a position vacant since an administrative realignment in August. He will start at $70,000.

Gallagher is now the assistant principal for kindergarten through 12th grade in Jefferson-Morgan School District.

The board also hired 11 teachers to replace teachers who have retired.

They included Miranda Policz, health and physical education; Erin Virgili, speech and language impaired; Gabrielle Bokat, special education; Ian McCombs, English; Kenneth Perkins, science; and elementary teachers, Michael Pohlot, Teresa Brown, Bethany Jurczak, Cortney Newland, Robert Miele and Chelsee Ritz.

Board President Tom Ricco voted “no” on all the teacher hirings without comment.

Three residents addressed the board about the hirings at the start of the meeting. None mentioned candidates by names. One speaker said he was upset an applicant he knew never received a second interview; the other two asked the board to give preference to a candidate who has been a substitute and lives in the district.

The board accepted the resignation of Brittney Giovanelli, special education teacher; and Christopher Eaton, English teacher.

The board also approved a secretary compensation plan and $1,200 raises for Tim Jones, school community facilitator, and Mike Gyurke, security director. It set the salary of maintenance supervisor Dave Franks at $60,000. He was paid a salary of $55,000.