Grade configurations will remain the same in the Connellsville Area School District.
A divided board Tuesday passed the motion to maintain the status quo. Directors Jeffrey Harvey and Francis Mongell voted against it; directors Charles Wilson and Loretta Lint abstained. Directors Richard Galand, Tom Dolde, Kevin Lape, Kenneth Nicholson and David Goldblum voted for the motion.
Elementary schools will remain kindergarten through six; the junior highs will remain seven through nine; and the high school will remain 10 through 12.
The district had to decide on configuration before any more renovations can be considered. Consultants P.J. Dick Inc. included reconfigurations in an August 2003 feasibility study; the board had to act within two years or another study would be required.
Directors did unanimously pass a change in the vo-tech school, which was listed in the feasibility study. A portion of vo-tech programs will be moved to the high school. The programs will be determined after a study of the vo-tech.
Directors also voted to eliminate graphic arts at the vo-tech because of declining enrollment. They also passed a balanced 2004-05 vo-tech budget of $1,714,230.
The rest of the district's 2004-05 budget remains unbalanced. Directors passed a tentative spending plan of $56,992,605. Wilson, Harvey and Lint voted against the budget.
Business Manager Gene Cunningham said the district must pass a balanced budget by the end of June.
The district has a fund balance of $2,825,000; with the anticipated revenue loss, the district will be short $965,000 by June 30, 2005.
The current millage is 9.5401. According to Cunningham, the average home value in the district is $51,000 and carries a yearly tax bill of $488.
Each mill provides $946,657 to the district.
Cunningham provided a report indicating that raising the millage to 11 would provide a $416,819 fund balance and raise the average tax bill to $563, a $75 increase.
Connellsville's last tax increase was in 2002.
Directors requested that Cunningham research how much the district would save by taking over special education from the Intermediate Unit.
Galand said Connellsville is the only area district that contracts its special education services from the IU.
Cunningham said the district pays $4 million for all IU services, including special education, psychological services and speech services. He has not yet received a breakdown of how much each service costs.
Directors will vote on a final budget at 7 p.m. June 29.
