MOUNT CARMEL - While neighboring school districts are facing significant budget deficits and personnel cuts, Mount Carmel Area School Board unanimously passed a proposed $16 million spending plan for 2012-2013 Thursday night that requires no tax increase.
The board also rescinded last month's motion to enter into a two-year cooperative agreement with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School for boys soccer because more players have agreed to play for their home school.
Voting to approve the $16,070,452 tentative budget were Directors Nicholas Goretski III, Michael Brinkash, Michael Rovito, Donna James, Dr. Ray Kraynak, his son, Raymond D. Kraynak, Thomas Ditchey, Charles Mannello and Robert Muldowney.
Mannello's son, Charles J. Mannello, a financial consultant for the district, said last year's budget totaled $16,671.332. He said the board was able to eliminate a proposed $675,000 budget deficit primarily through the retirement of eight teachers and a nurse's aide that will go into effect at the end of the school year.
Final adoption of the budget is scheduled for June.
After the meeting, Mannello said he advised the board to raise taxes by one mill ($69,000) for Northumberland County residents and .38-mill for Columbia County citizens due to the proposed lack of state funding school districts are scheduled to receive this year.
Goretski, who serves as board president, said he agreed not to raise taxes because he believes the district can overcome the relatively small amount of revenue a one-mill increase would generate.
"I believe we will be getting some more government assistance," he said. "Also, we need to go after people who are delinquent on their taxes to generate revenue. The state wants to see school districts pass balanced budgets, and that's what we did tonight."
In March, the board passed a preliminary budget totaling $16,652,291 that left a $675,104 shortfall. Previous estimated deficits for Shamokin Area, Line Mountain and Southern Columbia Area school districts were $5.6 million, $2.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
The board also approved the athletic fund and cafeteria budgets in the amounts of $236,737.45 and $1,000,359.02, respectively.
Players staying in MCA
After voting 8-1 last month to have Mount Carmel Area boys soccer players join the Red Raiders program due to dwindling numbers on both squads, directors voted 7-2 to rescind the motion, with the Kraynaks casting the two dissenting votes.
Last month, Mount Carmel Area Athletic Director Greg Sacavage explained that Lourdes had a projected 17 players for next season's soccer team, while Mount Carmel Area had 14 players. A minimum of 11 players are needed for every game.
But Sacavage informed the board Thursday that 20 players from Mount Carmel Area recently decided to play soccer, which would allow the school to continue to field its own team.
Dr. Kraynak stated, "This seems crazy to me. I question the numbers we have. You shouldn't have to be coaxed into playing any sport. If this fails, our kids may not be playing anywhere."
Charles Mannello added, "Somebody didn't do their job."
Mannello's comment prompted Sacavage to tell the board that the need for more players at Mount Carmel Area was made known throughout the school with sign-ups being held.
"The coaches simply went out and got more kids," Sacavage said.
In other business
Directors accepted the retirements of elementary school teachers Joseph Ahrensfield, Arthur Brosius, Denise Giacomini, Valerie Pachuski, Patricia Scicchitano and Paula Swartz, and district English as a Second Language instructor Anna Schu.
Acting Superintendent Bernie Stellar and Goretski thanked the teachers for their many years of dedicated service to the district.
The board agreed to purchase new varsity wrestling and varsity basketball uniforms at a cost not to exceed $2,500 for each sport.
Directors agreed to replace a steamer in the elementary school kitchen at a cost of $17,368.18.