Trinity plan includes 5.3-mill hike
Trinity Area School Board voted unanimously to adopt a $49.9 million final budget for the 2015-16 school year that includes a 5.3-mill tax increase.
The increase brings the total millage to 113 mills.
The budget includes an operating surplus of $72,131.
Under the Act 1 index, Trinity was permitted to increase its current millage by a maximum of 2.3 percent.
The state Department of Education granted the district tax-increase exceptions based on costs for special education and retirement contributions.
The district’s cost for special education is $586,049, and its payments to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System are $380,000.
In order to balance the budget, district secretaries, aides, confidential secretaries and administrators agreed to accept a salary pay freeze for the upcoming school year.
“This budget was extremely difficult,” said Superintendent Michael Lucas. “We began last year with a $3 million shortfall. We are excited to present to you a budget with minimal changes in programs.”
Lucas noted the school district did not furlough teachers and said his is proud of the programs the school district offers its students.
Lucas added about 70 percent of Pennsylvania school districts requested a tax above the index for 2015-16.
Trinity had the third lowest millage rate in Washington County in 2014-15.
“We certainly fall into that boat where we cannot afford the PSERS payments anymore, we cannot afford the special education payments anymore. Something had to be done, and this is not an easy decision, but I can assure you no rock was left unturned.”
Also Thursday, Lucas discussed the district’s accomplishments during the 2014-15 school year with the school board.
Lucas said the district’s goal is “doing more with less.” He told the board the district had eight fewer instructors than in 2013, “with minimum changes to program offerings.”
Among the highlights, he said, was Trinity Academy, which aims to help high school students who would otherwise be placed in alternative schools succeed in the classroom; the vocational-agriculture program, in which 80 students will participate in 2015-16; a new greenhouse; autistic and emotional support services that will be offered to students in all grade levels, including kindergarten; and STEM initiatives.
In other business, the school board:
• Hired John Miller as a high school English teacher at a salary of $51,906.
• Approved hiring Angela Seaman as an accommodations facilitator effective Aug. 20 during the 2015-16 school year and on additional days that she is needed for in-service trainings or meetings with teachers at a daily rate of $175, with single coverage health insurance.
• Approved a pay freeze for secretaries, aides Educational Support Professionals, confidential secretaries and non-Act 93 administrators for the 2015-16 school year.
• Recognized the high school girls softball team, which reached the PIAA finals last week.