McKeesport+schools+OK+57.5+million+preliminary+budget

= = = At least 46 jobs will be eliminated, wage freeze for teachers =

= By Mary Niederberger = = Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette = = 5/26/11 = = = = = = = = The McKeesport Area school board on Wednesday approved $57.5 million preliminary budget that increases taxes by 0.34 mills and calls for the elimination of 46 district employees. = = The board also approved a one-year extension to the teachers contract that includes a wage freeze for the district's 340 teachers. The current contract is set to expire in August. = = In addition, school officials said the district's Act 93 administrators also have agreed to a wage freeze for the 2011-2012 school year. = = Among those slated for furlough in the preliminary spending plan are social studies, science, English, reading and math teachers throughout the district, six elementary teachers, five academic coaches, two counselors, a librarian and a parent involvement coordinator. = = The budget also eliminates two administrative positions -- the technology coordinator and the coordinator of district security -- and nine support staff positions. = = Superintendent Timothy Gabauer said district officials hope an early retirement incentive the board approved last week will reduce the number of furloughs that will have to take place. = = "These positions are eliminated regardless. But we are hoping a number can be done through retirements," Mr. Gabauer said. = = Last month, the superintendent said that as many as 90 employees might be eliminated as a result of the loss of $4.3 million in state funds proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett. = = Though the list approved Wednesday listed 46 positions, Mr. Gabauer said the total will likely be higher after tutors and other employees are cut. Gov. Corbett's budget cut all money for after school tutoring programs and funding that districts used to support full-day kindergarten. = = As a result, McKeesport Area has cut its after school tutoring program and will use the funding previously directed to in-school tutoring to retain its full-day kindergarten program. = = Mr. Gabauer said despite the long list of job cuts, the district will maintain all of its academic and arts and music programs, its team teaching approach at the middle school and its freshman academy at the high school. = = The tax hike will bring in about $250,000 in revenue and cost the average homeowner about $10 a year, said Business Manager David Seropian. = = The district is using $4.2 million of its $6.5 million budget reserve to balance the budget. Mr. Seropian said if some state funds are restored to the district in the final state budget, they will be used to return money to the reserve fund. = = The district's final budget will be approved in June. = = Read more: [] = = = =News= =home=