District’s 2014-15 budget to break even; Taschner takes over as superintendent
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
CALN – The Coatesville Area School Board unanimously approved a general fund budget of $148,802,429 at Thursday night’s meeting.
The budget perfectly aligns with the projected expenditures for 2014-15, leaving no surplus or deficit.
During his presentation of the budget, District Director of Business Ronald Kabonick said that going over the district’s past budgets revealed massive fluctuations in how district revenue is spent.
While Board policy calls for the budget to be within five percent of the previous year’s budget, Kabonick noted that in previous years, the budget has changed by as much as 891%.
“When investors buy bonds, they’re going to look at how flexible or how stable you are, so it’s important that we get back to having stability in the district, adopt the budgets that we can live within, maintain our budget correctly, and not go over the budget,” he said.
Kabonick said that in addition to improved credit ratings, a more accurate budget will better inform the district in regards to decisions about taxes.
“The more consistent we are, the better we get, the more accurate we get with every line item in our budget, the better it’ll be for our taxpayers,” he said. “If we can become more efficient, it’ll result in less taxation for taxpayers.”
The budget approved Thursday night calls for a 2.6% increase in property tax, which is the district’s Act 1 limit. The district did not take exemptions for pension costs or special education increases. The tax rate increase will result in $0.81 more on every $1,000 of a taxpayer’s property value.
In her first meeting as district superintendent, Dr. Cathy Taschner agreed with Kabonick’s analysis.
“I agree with him that the more consistent we can be in our spending practice, the more marketable we become, and the better we can serve our community and our children,” she said.
Taschner, who has made multiple efforts to communicate with parents and taxpayers over the past few months, said that Thursday night was representative of many of the concerns and values she has heard.
“I thought tonight was a great representation of what I have seen and felt as I’ve been out in the community,” she said.
During her superintendent’s presentation, Taschner said that the district is looking to work with community groups including The Movement and The Arc of Chester County to train community members to sit in on individualized education plan (IEP) meetings.
The action comes after multiple parents accused district staff and administrators of hostility and harassment at IEP meetings during October’s NAACP open forum.
“I think when people come to meetings, whether it’s a parent conference, an IEP meeting, having someone there, a second set of ears to listen, a second voice to ask questions, a second of hands to take notes when they need to, and to encourage—that’s the role that we’re looking for,” said Taschner.
On behalf of the school board, Tascher presented former Interim Superintendent Dr. Leonard Fitts with a proclamation showing gratitude for his stepping in during a time of trouble for the district.
“I have the greatest admiration for you,” Fitts said of the school board and audience. “Keep asking for the best and requiring the best from all of your employees.”
Fitts will be heading to Pleasantville to once again serve as interim superintendent.
During public comment, one resident asked about the status of Conrad O’Brien’s investigation of the district and when the results would be released to the district attorney and the public.
Board Member Stu Deets said that the report has not yet been finished.
In April, the Board said that the investigation had been completed, but Deets said that the firm found something during financial auditing that they wanted to investigate further. He said that the investigation will be done once the Board meets with Conrad O’Brien again, probably in about two weeks.
Board Member Deborah Thompson asked for patience in regards to when the results would be made public.
“If the DA is really going to press charges here, which we hope will happen, we wouldn’t want that [the report] in the hands of the public first,” she said.
In other district news, the Board announced that a School Board meeting will be held in July.
