PVSD Strains to Close $922K Gap

The Perkiomen Valley School District continued working through its budget options at Monday's school board work session. 

According to a spreadsheet shown during the meeting, as of May 7, 2012, the projected budget shortfall was $921,839. The board has to close that gap, including bringing some special education classes back in house and cutting 15 secretarial and support staff positions.

With those suggestions implemented, the district still faces a shortfall of $257,574.

The board reviewed several options tonight. 

One option involves using Act 1 exclusions, which would raise the tax rate from 2.0 percent to 2.43 percent. On an average property value assessment of $180,000, that would increase a homeowner's taxes by $10.42/month or $125.04 annually. (The 2.0 percent increase would be an increase of $8.53/month, or $102.36 annually.)

Three other options, which would not affect the goal of staying at a 2.0% tax increase, are: 1) use the district's fund balance to cover the shortfall; 2) eliminate one guidance counselor and one teacher position by attrition (meaning the positions will be vacated due to retirement or resignation and will not be filled) and reduce the building budget by 10 percent; 3) eliminate the counselor position and two teacher positions, again by attrition.

One issue with losing teaching positions is its effect on class sizes. Board vice president Lori Snyder and superintendent Dr. Cliff Rogers, among others, voiced concerns about classes becoming too large.

Business administrator Jim Weaver said that cutting the building budget is asking the facilities to "do more with less."

Not all buildings would be affected equally, Weaver, told the board. 

"It [the funds] would be allocated on a per-pupil basis, so some buildings might have a 17 or 20 percent cut," Weaver explained.

Other options that are on the table include a 6 or 12-month salary and benefits freeze and changes to employee health plans. 

Board president Lynn Bigelow said that while the 12-month freeze option is off the table, a 6-month freeze is still being negotiated and is still a possibility.

"We are discussing that with [the teachers' union], but there's no conclusion yet," Bigelow said.

Board member John King asked when there would be an answer on the 6-month freeze.

"We might have information for our next meeting [on Monday, June 11]," Bigelow said, "but it might not be until the end of next week."

Bigelow's comment opened up talk of scheduling a third June meeting in case the salary freeze was still being discussed on Monday.

The board agreed to hold a third meeting if needed on Monday, June 18 at 7:00pm, to work on the budget.

Middle school attendance secretary Diane Melville asked the board to not eliminate her job and the jobs of the other secretaries and support staff, which has been slated to happen if this budget passes.

"I do more than just attendance. My day is very very busy and I don't know how someone else would pick up that work. Please consider not letting us go – I love my job, I love what I do, I love the kids. I would be heartbroken if I had to leave the district," Melville said.