Greensburg Salem keeps taxes flat, cuts librarians and band teacher

Parents, students and alumni who advocated for the preservation of programs at Greensburg Salem School District say they’re disappointed by the district’s decision to keep property taxes flat while cutting library and band positions.

“A one-mill tax increase could have fixed so much,” said Sara Deegan, a parent of two elementary school children who repeatedly asked the board to reconsider the cuts. “A small investment now would be worth so much to these children as adults.”

The school board approved the tax rate and the $46.2 million budget in two 6-3 votes Monday.

District leaders said the cuts were necessary to compensate for an expected 3% revenue drop caused by the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic.

The real estate tax rate will remain at 89.72 mills, costing the average district property owner about $1,525 a year.

The board voted to furlough one teacher and eliminate the middle school and elementary school librarian positions, the elementary school band teacher, tech-ed teacher and community liaison.

But one librarian will fill the position left by the furloughed teacher. Two more librarians and the community liaison will be moved to fill vacant positions in the district.

The elementary school band teacher and tech-ed teacher positions will be eliminated through attrition.

An earlier version of the budget called for furloughing two teachers, but one of those positions was preserved in the final version.

Several members of the public spoke during the board’s virtual meeting Monday to ask leaders to consider raising taxes by one mill — about $17 for the average property owner — to avoid the cuts.

Greensburg Salem High School student Joseph Gongaware said the elementary school library was like therapy for him during a difficult childhood.

“The elementary school library has done more for me than I can even describe,” he said.

He said cutting librarians and music programs would be harmful to students.

“In the end, it’s your job to make the school successful and to provide the students with what they need to succeed and flourish in life,” he said.

Thomas Barnette-Contreras, a 2020 Greensburg Salem graduate, said participating in the band has been an essential part of his education.

“I would not be here today without all the hard work and dedication every single staff member of Greensburg Salem has put into my development, especially all the music educators,” he said. “I wouldn’t be who I am without them.”

He urged the board to take “courageous action.”

“It seems that all some of you value is your incumbency, and that will certainly be in question if you pass this budget,” Barnette-Contreras said.

Superintendent Gary Peiffer said the board has spent many hours considering the budget and looking for the best way to balance it.

“This is a very, very difficult time, and, in my experience as an educator at three different school districts, this is one of the most difficult budgets, if not the most difficult budget,” he said. “The board takes these decisions seriously, and they take a look at every angle. They’re as creative as they can possibly be.”

Board members Brian Conway, Frank Gazze, Ron Mellinger, Jeff Metrosky, Jonathon O’Brien and Robin Savage voted for the budget and tax rate, with school directors Lynn Jobe, Lynna Thomas and Stephen Thomas voting against it.

The budget has an estimated $425,000 deficit, which will leave the district with about $3 million in its reserves at the end of the school year.

Business manager James R. Dzurica said the district’s financial reserves peaked in 2018 at nearly $5 million and have been sliding since. The minimum recommended fund balance is just over $2.3 million.

Deegan said she hopes advocates who protested the cuts will keep up their efforts to restore and preserve district programs.

“At some point, we’re going to need to reverse this trend, or we’re going to be at or below the recommended $2.3 million fund balance,” he said.

Lynna Thomas thanked the community for being involved in the budget process and said the board will consider “creative solutions” to preserving music education at the district’s three elementary schools, such as bringing in part-time or contracted instructors.

More than 1,000 people signed a physical petition calling for the district to preserve the band, with more than 13,500 people signing an online petition. More than 560 signed an online petition to preserve the librarians.

Mellinger, the board president, said the district will continue to look for ways to preserve quality education.

“This isn’t something that ends tonight, that’s just going to stop,” he said. “We have to do this every month. We’re looking for ways to make things right during this pandemic.”