Preliminary Peters school budget contains tax hike

5/22/2012 11:19 AM

McMURRAY – Property owners in Peters Township will see their school taxes jump by 3.79 mills if the preliminary 2012-13 budget passed Monday is adopted June 25.
Members of the school board will hold a final finance committee meeting, which is open to the public, at 6:30 p.m. June 11.
The current general fund budget is $50,872,603. Other preliminary budgets passed were the technology budget at $902,231 that excludes salaries and benefits that are included in the general fund figure; curriculum budget for $164,659; and the capital reserve fund budget of $920,100.
The district received permission from the state Department of Education to increase taxes higher than permitted by the predetermined index. Currently, school taxes are slightly above 96 mills, still one of the lowest in Washington County.
At Monday’s school board meeting, the board also accepted the retirement of Dan Solomon, business manager, effective June 30. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

Peters passes preliminary budget, tax increase 

May 21, 2012 11:27 pm By Janice Crompton / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peters Township school board members Monday night unanimously passed a preliminary budget that calls for $50.9 million in spending during the next school year, with a 3.75-mill real estate tax increase. The district was able to shave about $1 million in expenses from a proposed spending plan approved late last year, when the district applied to the state Department of Education for exceptions to the state's preset inflationary cap, which would ordinarily have curbed a tax increase to 1.7 percent — or about 1.64 mills. The district was granted exceptions for expenses related to special education, debt and pension costs, which have leaped by an estimated $900,000. District business manager Dan Solomon said Act 1 restrictions and state funding cuts in recent years have kept the district from being able to correct its financial course to prevent tax increases. The district held property tax rates steady from 1991 to 2003 but has been increasing them since then, including last year, when taxes were raised by 1.33 mills — the maximum allowed under the inflationary cap. The district's current real estate tax rate is 96.51 mills. If the tax rate is raised by 3.75 mills, it would translate into about a 3.75 percent increase in property tax bills. The board is expected to vote on a final budget during a June 25 board meeting. Members said the budget may still be slightly tweaked, but no major changes were expected. The plan also includes $902,231 in technology spending, a curriculum budget totaling $164,594 and a capital reserve fund of $920,100. Janice Crompton: jcrompton@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1867. First Published 2012-05-21 23:29:25

PT business manager announces retirement 5/11/2012 3:34 AM McMURRAY - After serving as the business manager for Peters Township School District for the past 19 years, Dan Solomon has decided it's time to retire. Four days after he celebrates his 60th birthday June 26, Solomon will retire June 30. As for the future, "I have no plans right now," Solomon said a few minutes after his replacement was hired during a special meeting of the school board Monday. The board voted unanimously and without discussion to hire Vincent Belczyk, who is the business manager at Uniontown Area School District. No start date was announced, and Belczyk will be paid $89,500. Solomon said he expects to travel with his wife, Anita, and he knows he will be somewhat involved in plans for his only daughter's November wedding. The couple also has a son. During his 35 years as business manager in two very diverse districts, Solomon said he has seen numerous changes in the field of education. One positive, he said, is the more cooperative feeling between management and labor in negotiating contracts. "Over the years, labor and management have learned to survive in the same fishbowl," Solomon said. He is pleased with the atmosphere in the Peters district and even though Peters is "not utopia," the feeling is "harmonious." He credits the employees and administration in the Peters district with keeping taxes low and educational accomplishments high. The district, he believes, has the second-lowest tax rate in Washington County, next to California Area School District. Peters went a decade without raising taxes. However, with cuts in state funding and lower interest rates on investments, millage increases have become necessary. The 2012-13 budget that will be passed before Solomon retires will be in excess of $50 million and will include another tax hike. Like Solomon, Belczyk has extensive experience running a school district in difficult economic times. Belczyk has 19 years of experience, including two years in the Uniontown district. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from California University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. Copyright Observer Publishing C

Peters reappoints marching band director, assistants

Peters reappoints marching band director, assistants 5/1/2012 12:00:00 AM By Janice Crompton Peters school directors got an earful before and during a meeting Monday night from a group of marching band members and their supporters concerned about the status of the band director and his assistants. The board also heard from parents who were angry about a middle school fight last week. Dozens of high school marching band members and their parents demonstrated outside of district administration offices before the school board meeting, saying they were concerned that the board wouldn't reappoint the band director and five of his assistants. "What we're trying to do is make it very well known that we support our sponsors," said band parent Libby Chalifoux. Two weeks ago, the board was set to vote on reappointing marching band Director Milt Barney and his assistants, but took no action when the item was removed from the agenda without explanation. During Monday's meeting, the board approved the reappointment of Mr. Barney and his assistants by a 6-2-1 vote, with board members Lori Cuervo and Ron Dunleavy dissenting. Member David Hvizdos abstained from voting. Board member Sue Smith said she wanted to offer her "profound apologies" to the band sponsors and said she was "appalled by the way this has been handled." Board members also heard from a group of parents who said their children were traumatized by a fight between two girls at the middle school April 24. Parents urged the board to seek an independent mental health assessment and possible expulsion of a student who attacked another, but district Solicitor Gary Matta said the issue was "being handled by the administrators and my office." More details in Thursday's PG South Xtra Edition. Janice Crompton: jcrompton@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1867. First published on May 1, 2012 at 12:00 am

From an email blast from high school: Health Update from PTHS April 26, 2012 Dear Parents/Guardians: There has been a case of whooping cough (Pertussis) at Peters Township High School. Pertussis is caused by bacteria. It can begin with a mild cold, sneezing, low-grade fever, and mild cough, which progresses to an irritating cough, which worsens at night. Characteristic "whooping" develops in about two weeks. It is spread by direct contact with airborne droplets during coughing and sneezing. It is treated with a fourteen day course of antibiotics. After five days treatment, students are no longer contagious and can return to school after checking with the school nurse. Most children have received immunizations against Pertussis, however if it has been four years since the previous immunization, the immunity could be decreased. As in any case where your child is ill, it is recommended that you seek medical attention to take the necessary precautions to protect your child and others. Atttached is additional information on pertussis from the Dept. of Health. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Mrs. Lori Pavlik Principal Gail Kowalczyk RN, MSN, CSN School Nurse

Police officer approved for Peters Township High School: Post Gazette 4-10-12

4/10/2012 4:57:00 AM
By Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peters council members on Monday night approved a request to assign a police officer to the Peters Township High School for the remainder of the school year.

Township Manager Michael Silvestri told council members that he received a call from the district asking for an officer to report daily to the high school, though he said school officials didn't report a specific threat or incident.

Mr. Silvestri said officials indicated that there were concerns from staff members regarding ongoing "problems" at the school.

Council members said they would approve assigning an officer to the school so long as one was available and the district paid for the service, but said they were dismayed by the request.

"It just seems weird that all of the sudden we're getting a request for a police officer," said Councilman James Berquist. "I don't want to be the guy that says 'No you can't have an officer' and then we have an incident."

In the past, Mr. Silvestri said the district has occasionally sent officers to patrol the building at the request of the district, but only on a temporary basis. The township employs 22 officers, but not all are available for active duty, because of injuries, sickness and vacations.

Janice Crompton: jcrompton@post-gazette.com or 412-851-1867.

First published on April 10, 2012 at 12:00 am

Peters, district settle lawsuit with parent: P-G 2-22-12

Peters, district settle lawsuit with parent
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
By Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peters and its school district have settled a federal suit by a resident and former basketball coach who claimed her civil rights were violated when she was barred from her daughter's basketball practices and games.

As part of the settlement, approved Friday by U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan, insurers for the township and district will pay Diane Wickstrom and her daughter, Marissa, a total of $63,500.

Neither defendant admits any wrongdoing.

The Wickstroms' attorney, Thomas J. Farnan, claimed his client was wrongfully barred for almost two years under a "false premise" and said Tuesday that his clients are "vindicated."

The school board Monday night approved the settlement agreement by a 5-4 vote, with members Lori Cuervo, David Hvizdos, Lynn Erenberg and Cindy Golembiewski dissenting.

Ms. Wickstrom sued in October alleging defamation and violations of her right to free speech and equal protection.

She claimed she was singled out after sending a 2009 email to the township's parks and recreation board that raised concerns about her daughter's seventh-grade basketball team, part of the Peters Township Basketball Association.

A policy was enacted that banned parents from practices of the seventh-grade girls travel team, which was followed by a letter by the township to Ms. Wickstrom warning that she would be cited or arrested if she did not comply.

"This is a case of parents, in retaliation against a coach/parent for her complaints about their inappropriate behavior, seizing control of the instruments of legal authority in a small town and dramatically and vindictively retaliating against that coach/parent by implementing and enforcing petty ordinances against her," Mr. Farnan wrote in a motion.

Peters claimed that the exclusion policy was applied to all parents, and the sides disagreed about whether Ms. Wickstrom violated the policy.

On Nov. 21 Peters rescinded the ban on Ms. Wickstrom.

The township's insurer will be responsible for paying $55,000, and the school district's insurer will cover the remaining $8,500.

Peters Manager Michael Silvestri said the insurance company made the decision to settle and worked out the amount.

He said the only bite to taxpayers would be any deductible the township would have to pay. He could not cite a figure.

"The insurance company is the one that made the decision to settle as opposed to continue this in court," Mr. Silvestri said. "We still contend that there was no wrongdoing."
Jonathan D. Silver: jsilver@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1962.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12053/1211791-58.stm#ixzz1n799dXRs