Crestwood School Board picks new member, passes final budget

2022-06-24 21:42:07 By : Ms. Spring Wu

Jun. 24—WRIGHT TWP. — The Crestwood School Board accepted the resignation of member Kim Spath at Thursday's monthly meeting, and appointed Richard Nardone to fill her term, effective Friday. Spath resigned because she was moving out of the district. She did not attend the meeting.

Her absence resulted in two 4-4 votes on a final budget for 2022-23, meaning they failed. The first vote was for a budget with a 4.2% property tax increase, raising the millage to 12.2424. After than failed in a tie, the board voted for 3% increase, raising the millage to 12.1019, but that also failed. That led to a third vote, for a budget with a 2.4% increase, raising the millage to 12.0314. That motion passed 7-1 with Board President Barry Boone opposed.

A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. The adopted budget sets spending slightly less than $46.4 million. After the meeting Business Manager Natasha Milazzo said that with a 2.4% tax increase income is expected to fall short of spending by $454,409. That would be covered by a fund balance of about $1.3 million, shrinking it to $867,66 by the end of next June.

Milazzo also said the budget assumes a 2% increase in state funding. Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed education budget includes an 11.6% increase for Crestwood, but the Republican-controlled legislature is not expected to approve Wolf's large education increases. Boone said that if the state does increase funding more than expected, the extra money would probably go into the fund balance.

—Approved an Act 93 administrative compensation plan for 2022-24. Act 93 is the state law that sets how employment agreements are made with non-union, mostly administrative staff.

—Approved a one-year contract with County Waste for trash and recycling removal at an annual cost of $28,181 paid in monthly installments.

—Approved the sale of property at 310 A South Main Road, near the Secondary School campus, to Larysa and Roger Soler at the purchase price of $250,000.

—Renewed insurance through the Joyce Insurance Group for 2022-23 at a total premium of $229,852, which is $12,614 less than the cost in 2021-22. The premium covers life insurance, general liability, property, boiler and machinery, inland marine, crime, business auto, umbrella, workers compensation, active shooter, terrorism and liability for school leaders, employment practice, school violent acts, law enforcement and cyber.

—Rescinded an agreement with Lee Anthony as speech therapist and district special education program, and approved an agreement with Time 2 Talk Therapy Services, LLC, for those services.

—Approved One America for short-term disability insurance at a rate of $4,212 annually for two years, covering Act 93 employees and administration.

—Approved a 3-year contract for transportation services with Chiverella Inc., effective July 1 this your through June 31, 2025, pending solicitor review.

—Approved a severance agreement with Rice Elementary Principal Bonnie Gregory.

—Approved Carolyn Moore as long-term substitute.

—Accepted the retirement of full-time secretary Sarah Smigelski.

—Approved Karen Parker as secondary campus PIMS (Personal Information Management System) secretary at $17.65 per hour, seven hours a day Monday through Friday.

—Accepted the resignation of special education teacher Jennifer Karpf.

—Appointed coaches for the 2022-23 seasons. Cross country — Amy Viti at $3,490 as assistant Varsity, head junior high and Shelby Foster and Gina Jakubowski at $1,745 each as assistant junior high; football — Greg Myers at $4,663 as varsity assistant, Kyle Kutney at $4,250 as varsity assistant, John Centak at $4,000 as varsity assistant, Vincent Genoble at $4,000 as varsity assistant, Scott Rozitski at $4,000 as varsity assistant/head junior high, Martin Bibla at $3,000 as junior high/varsity assistant, and Brian Davidson at $1,541 as junior high assistant; boys soccer — Russ Kile at $5,278 as assistant varsity head junior high and Steve Molatoris at $4,541 as assistant junior high; girls soccer — Nick Hufford at $5,278 as assistant varsity JV and Jamie Antosh at $5,278 as assistant varsity head junior high; boys basketball — Mark Atherton at $8,072 as head coach for varsity; girls basketball — Don Hopkins at $8,072 as head varsity; wrestling — Jim Costello at $8,072 as head varsity; field hockey — Haley Gayoski at $5,277 as assistant varsity, Melanie Leo at $5,277 as assistant varsity JV, Kim Schluer at $5,277 as head junior high, and Sara Myers at $4,541 as assistant junior high: Golf — Jeffery Bellas at $3,188 as assistant varsity head junior high.

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish

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