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Keystone Oaks board adopts 2024–25 final budget with 3% tax increase; approves multiple contracts and personnel actions
Summary
The Keystone Oaks School District board adopted its 2024–25 final budget — including a 3% tax increase below the Act 1 index — and approved a package of personnel contracts, the superintendent's salary and other routine items. The budget shows a small deficit to be covered by fund balance.
Keystone Oaks School District directors voted to adopt the district's 2024'25 final budget and approved multiple personnel contracts and administrative actions during their regular meeting.
The district's business official presented the final budget for 2024'25, reporting estimated expenditures and expected revenues and noting a deficit of $305,502 that the district plans to cover from fund balance. The board also approved a 3% tax increase for the year, a rate the official said is below the state's Act 1 index allowance.
The budget adoption was the most consequential fiscal action of the night. Board discussion referenced multi-year projections and an impending elementary capital-study expected to inform future decisions about bonds and major facility costs. Board members noted the district expects a slight surplus this school year, which reduces near-term budget pressure.
Directors also approved personnel and contract items bundled on the consent agenda. Actions included authorization for the superintendent to hire staff for the 2024'25 school year (subject to retroactive board approval); renewal of an Assistant Food Service Director contract for Chris DuBois (07/01/2024'06/30/2029); a five-year contract for Donna O'Toole as Technology Integration Specialist with the salary listed in the agenda; and a five-year contract for Benjamin Gitkin as coordinator of student data innovation/advancement (07/01/2024'06/30/2029) with a 2024'25 salary presented in the meeting.
The board also accepted the superintendent's evaluation and set his 2024'25 salary at $209,444.29 after reporting a "distinguished" rating on the district evaluation tool. Several bundled compensation items for Act 93 and support positions were approved in line with evaluations and contracts.
On tax and finance items, the board approved the Act 5.11 tax slate for 2024'25, which includes a $5 local services tax, a 0.5% earned income portion reported in the agenda and a 0.5% real estate transfer tax allocation referenced in the packet. The board also approved accounts payable for the month ending May 31, 2024, and reaffirmed authorized depositories and banking designations.
Smaller policy and program items carried on the consent agenda: first readings of several policies; participation in comprehensive threat-assessment training at no cost; the Allegheny Children's Initiative letter of agreement for the student assistance program (07/01/2024'06/30/2025); and approval of professional development fund requests.
The meeting closed after routine remarks and recognition of retiring staff. The board approved the budget and the consent items by voice vote; roll-call-style affirmations were read during the budget vote.
