Uniontown Area School Board could not get enough support among its members to support Act 72 Thursday while Mt. Pleasant Area School Board in Westmoreland County opted to take no action. School boards across the state have until Monday to make their decision to opt in or out of the state program, supported by Gov. Ed Rendell. Opting in makes school districts eligible to receive a share of the money brought in from video slot machines approved by the state as a means to reduce real estate taxes. However, the majority of school boards in the state, wary of how much money the slots will raise and the provision for a referendum on future tax increases, are staying away from Act 72. By declining to take any action, school boards effectively opt out without voting on it. “If you don’t do anything by May 30, then you are not in,” Tom Miscik, Mt. Pleasant Area board president, said last night. “It was not on the agenda, and it was not handled today.” Uniontown Area School Board Director Charles Castor made a motion yesterday during a special meeting to opt into the program. Board President Harry Kaufman called for a second to the motion three times. Each time, he received no response. The motion died. The board had too many questions concerning how Act 72 would affect the district. But members said they are interested in giving tax relief to property owners — at least to senior citizens who are 65 years of age and older. Director Kenneth Meadows proposed the district begin a program giving a $5 tax rebate to senior citizens for every hour they spend volunteer in the school district — up to 100 hours. Only two individuals per household would be eligible. “The program would be done on an as needed basis and run by the principal,” said Meadows. “Time sheets would need to be kept.” Board members liked the proposal. Solicitor Michael Brungo was asked to study the legal aspects of the proposed program. Brungo will study if the arrangement would qualify as an “employment relationship” and if the voluntary positions would constitute bargaining unit work to someone outside of the bargaining unit. He will also check into insurance needs. “Compared to Act 72, this is more doable, and it would help us,” said Tammy Boyle, director. “It’s definitely worth looking into.” “With this (proposition) the tax relief is up front — the senior citizens would know what they’re getting,” said Susan Clay, director. “With Act 72, it’s a pig-in-a-poke — they don’t know for sure what they’ll be getting.” Meadows added that the senior citizens might even enjoy being involved with the students. “This doesn’t help all the taxpayers in the district, but it does help the senior citizens,” Meadows said.

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