Chartiers Valley board adopts $65.32 million budget, approves leases and personnel moves

The Chartiers Valley School District Board of School Directors adopted a $65,319,031 general fund budget for the 2018–19 fiscal year and approved multiple contract and personnel items at its June 26 regular meeting.

Board President Tony Mazzarini presided over the meeting, which opened at 6:09 p.m.; Dr. Johannah Vanatta, the superintendent, told the board she was planning for the coming school year and thanked staff who helped balance the budget. The budget resolution adopts a tax rate of 17.0710 mills (about $1.71 per $100 of assessed value) and includes standard discount and penalty terms for taxpayers, as read into the record by the superintendent.

The board approved a range of consent items related to finance and operations. District staff reported a proposed equipment contract with vendor ComDoc that district officials said would replace 22 multi-function devices, allow up to five larger-volume units, and produce an estimated savings of roughly $1,500 per month versus current service. A district staff member explained that about 80 HP laser printers remain in the district and the planned replacements are higher-function desktop multi‑function devices. A ComDoc representative told the board he was not concerned about a five-year term and described the vendor platform as current and able to support apps.

The board also approved leasing arrangements for student Chromebooks and teacher laptops with HP Financial Services (Chromebook lease: up to $24,000 annually for three years; teacher laptop lease: up to $38,500 annually for five years), bid awards for supplies totaling $88,451.76, designation of one van as surplus for disposition through a 422 Auction, a $0.10 increase in lunch prices for 2018–19, and a proposed capital reserve budget of up to $275,000 for the year. The board approved a PDE‑approved PlanCon Part I related to change orders 67–69 and adopted the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion resolution under Act 50 and Act 1 for the coming year.

Human resources items were considered separately. The board approved the appointment of Mikaela Duckstein as Director of Communication and Strategic Partnerships, effective July 1, and ratified several staff resignations, retirements, and extracurricular sponsor appointments. On the appointment of Tim McConnell as head girls varsity basketball coach, the board approved the motion on a roll-call vote, 5–3. McConnell, who said he had coached the boys program for 25 years, told the board he plans to “focus on success” measured by effort rather than wins and losses.

Not all board members supported the budget and staffing approach. Board member Darren Mariano voted against a budget‑related motion and criticized what he characterized as past district priorities, saying, “A few years ago when the district decided to build buildings instead of investing in their teachers, that was a big mistake and now we’re feeling it. We’re feeling the repercussions of bad decisions.” President Mazzarini asked Mariano to clarify what he meant by investing in teachers; Mariano said the district had relied on attrition and not replaced an estimated dozens of teachers, which he said had increased class sizes and harmed instruction.

The board noted there will be no July meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.; minutes were signed by Acting Board Secretary Deborah Wiseman.