Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Connellsville board approves proposed $92.19 million budget, several equipment purchases and multiple hires
Summary
The Connellsville Area School District board approved the proposed final 2026–27 budget of $92,186,662, voted to buy several capital items through grants or capital funds, and confirmed multiple hires, leaves and retirements. A proposed millage increase to fund an additional music teacher was set for next month—s agenda.
The Connellsville Area School District Board of Directors on Monday approved a proposed final budget of $92,186,662 for the 2026–27 fiscal year and $4,878,410 for the district—s career and technical center, and authorized publication of the budget notice for public inspection.
The board also approved a series of capital and program purchases recommended by staff. Members voted to approve the NC3 small-format digital printing system purchase through Corbiz Systems LLC using PCCD grant funds (the purchase and grant routing were discussed during the meeting); the board approved a refrigeration learning system through Alpine Educational Services under a PEPPM contract at $74,319.76 and authorized a Viking commercial refrigerator for the culinary program at about $28,000 to be purchased from the capital equipment fund.
Why it matters: The budget vote sets the spending framework the district will present for final adoption. Several approval votes used grant or capital funds, which board members discussed in relation to district priorities and cost-effectiveness.
Board members debated the use of grant funds on some purchases. "I understand we're using PCCD grant money, but I also think we can probably get that done a lot less money and maybe use the rest of that money for the PCCD grant throughout the school district," Mr. Martray, a board member, said when explaining his “no” vote on one grant-funded purchase.
The meeting included routine approvals: minutes and payments for the general, federal and cafeteria funds were approved by voice vote. The board accepted a list of donations and scholarships totaling several thousand dollars for student programs and awarded professional-travel authorizations for teachers to attend conferences in Pittsburgh and virtual trainings.
Personnel actions: the board confirmed several leaves under the Family and Medical Leave Act, accepted retirements and resignations (including the retirement of Deborah McGinnis, effective June 30, 2026), and conditionally approved multiple hires for the 2026–27 school year pending required clearances and medicals. Some personnel votes recorded abstentions as noted during the roll call.
Other contracts and renewals approved included agreements for educational services with New Directions and Mary Kay Pennsylvania at specified per‑diem rates, renewal of a school-based behavioral-health memorandum of understanding, student accident insurance, and a driver-education vehicle lease for the summer driving program.
What happens next: The proposed final budget will be available for public inspection and will return for final adoption at a later meeting, with formal legal notice published at least 10 days beforehand. Several items pulled for further committee review (notably pricing for an electric‑supply consortium agreement) will return to committee for clarification before the board acts.
