School board plans to close elementary school, lay off 12
Tax increase possible with $5 mllion deficit
The Plum Borough school board Tuesday night approved a school closing and reconfiguration plan that will save the district an estimated $1.8 million.
But it could cost 12 teachers their jobs.
The district will also switch from full-day to half-day kindergarten classes as a way to save money.
Board president Steve Schlauch and district business manager John Zahorchak said the district has a lot of work to do to in addressing a $5 million deficit, but said the vote represented an important first step.
Mr. Zahorchak said part of the $1.8 million savings will be a decrease in transportation costs under the plan.
Mr. Schlauch said
seven school directors voted for the reconfiguration, and board members Jim Rogers and Rich Zucco voted against it.
“Educationally, I think it’s a good model,” Mr. Schlauch said.
He said the plan was also recommended by new district superintendent Brendan Hyland.
Mr. Schlauch said school directors will look for more ways to cut costs during workshops that will begin in April.
He said the board will also consider a tax increase.
“We have to make tough decisions to balance this budget,” he said Tuesday night. “Our main priority is to provide the best possible education to students at a cost affordable to hardworking families and seniors in the borough.”
All of the district’s elementary schools currently serve students in kindergarten through grade six.
Under the plan, Regency Park Elementary School will close at the end of this school year, Pivik and Center elementary schools will become kindergarten through grade four buildings, and fifthand sixth-graders will attend the new Holiday Park Elementary School, Mr. Schlauch said.
Seventh- and eighthgraders will continue to attend Oblock Junior High School, and ninth through 12th graders will continue to attend the high school, he said.
There are 19 full-time teachers at Regency Park Elementary School. Mr Zahorchak said seven of the 19 full-time teachers will retire, resulting in furloughs of the 12 remaining teachers when the school closes.
Jeff Hadley, Regency Park principal, has been hired as assistant superintendent in another school district, Mr. Zahorchak said, and his position will be eliminated.
On Tuesday night, school directors also voted to approve a new organizational chart for district administrators that consolidates some duties, Mr. Schlauch said. Under the chart, Mr. Hyland will have two assistant superintendents.
The assistant superintendent for kindergarten through grade eight will be responsible for curriculum for those grades, for school safety and for Title I programs, Mr. Schlauch said, while the assistant superintendent for grades nine to 12 will be responsible for curriculum for those grades and for district human resources, special education and strategic planning.
One secretary is expected to retire at the end of this school year, Mr. Zahorchak said, and she will not be replaced. Two maintenance men are also retiring this year and will not be replaced, he said.
Mr. Schlauch said state pension costs are hurting the district.
In January, Mr. Zahorchak said the district’s required payments into the pension fund, which totaled just over $1 million per year five to six years ago, have ballooned to almost $10 million per year.