Quaker Valley School Board Approves Proposed Budget

The Quaker Valley School Board voted Tuesday night to approve a proposed $41.174 million budget for next school year that doesn't increase taxes, but actually cuts the millage rate as required by county-wide reassessments.

The 2013-14 budget proposal lowers the property tax rate from 21.25 mills to a projected 16.93 mills, a decrease that is mandatory as a result of new property assessment numbers by Allegheny County.

The millage rate will be recalculated again before a final budget vote on June 18, after the county releases its latest tax assessment figures and processes more appeals.

A projected $191,769 gap still remains between proposed revenues and expenses, but district officials plan to use reserve funds to balance out the budget.

Overall, the proposed spending plan is 2.68 percent higher than this year–-2.18 percent of which is attributed to state-mandated retirement cost increases. All other increases combined total $208,804 or 0.5 percent over the current year, according to the district. 

The proposal maintains the district’s current $497,000 contribution for the Sewickley Public Library, and includes wage concessions and freezes for various employee groups.

Superintendent Joseph Clapper emphasized that the budget is preliminary and that estimated figures and assumptions may not represent the final millage rate. 

“We remain hopeful that state allocations to public schools will increase beyond the governor’s proposed budget and we are awaiting the most up-to-date figures from Allegheny County regarding property assessments,” Clapper said in a statement after the vote.     

Other highlights in the 2013-14 proposed budget includes funding for several new and ongoing initiatives:

• The elementary program will benefit from a year-long extension of the elementary literacy coach position, which works closely with teachers and administrators to improve literacy instruction in for elementary students. 
• A kindergarten teacher has been added in order to maintain acceptable class sizes for the district’s youngest learners.
• A four-year technology plan has been approved that continues the one-to-one laptop initiative for students in grades 6-12.  The new plan represents significant immediate and long-term savings compared with previous years.
• There will be an increased focus on career education — especially for high school students including internships, job shadowing, etc.
• Quaker Valley High School will be developing curriculum for a pre-engineering offerings.
• The district will examine the potential to transform the middle school library into an educational space that fosters innovation and creativity for 21st century learners where students choose to spend their time.

The school board will continue budget deliberations at the next finance committee meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21. A final budget and tax millage rate will be voted upon during the board's special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 at Edgeworth Elementary School.

The budget is available for public inspection and comment online, at the district’s administrative offices, 100 Leetsdale Industrial Drive in Leetsdale, or the Sewickley Public Library. A PDF is also attached to this article.

What do you think of the proposed spending plan? Tell us in the comments.  

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