The Weatherly Area School Board voted to raise taxes for the upcoming year to help curb the district's expenses.

Before discussing the 2017-18 school year budget, the board accepted the resignation of Brandon Pugh, and voted in Shay Wagner as his immediate replacement."It is with great hesitation to inform the board of my resignation," Pugh wrote in a letter read by board President Girard Fewins."I am the president of a newly formed soccer league, work with the baseball and basketball teams, and that takes up a lot of time. I've enjoyed my time on the board and working to help students in the district. I would like to thank everyone for this opportunity," he wrote.Board member Gerard Grega voted no for replacing Pugh with Wagner, saying, "We should be looking at all the applicants first before deciding."Pugh, William Knepper and Brian O'Donnell were absent from the vote.BudgetO'Donnell joined the board for the second half of the meeting to discuss the budget.The board deliberated on the upcoming budget and were deadlocked in opposing votes to raise the millage an extra 1.5 for the upcoming year.Grega, O'Donnell and Chad Obert were against the increase with newly appointed member Wagner abstaining. The remaining members, Fewins, Vice President Amy Potsko, Georgeanne Herling and Matthew vonFrisch attempted to compromise by proposing a 1.32 increase, down to a 0.5 increase with the trio remaining firm in their stance to not raise taxes."If we do not raise taxes this year, we are looking at a $700,000 deficit," vonFrisch said."If we do nothing, the money we saved on the transportation contracts would be null and void," Fewins said."We spend more per student than other districts," Grega said."We have small class sizes that can increase," he said."We have increased the elementary class sizes," Superintendent Teresa Young said."Five dollars per month is what a 1.5-mill increase for taxpayers would be versus next year, which would be $20 a month increase if we wait and raise it to 3.5 mills next year," she said."What I heard loud and clear when I was running for the board was the community didn't like the higher tax rate all at once," said Wagner."They would like a small increase. That's what I've heard," she said."It is easier to raise taxes when you have good quality programs in place," Young said.The board broke for a 30-minute recess to allow Wagner to be brought up to speed on the budget's details before reconvening for one final vote. The board passed the 1.5-mill increase with a 5-3 vote, Grega, O'Donnell and Obert remained against the increase with the rest of the board including Wagner voting for the tax hike.Other businessThe administration was reorganized for the upcoming year by returning Sandra Slavick to principal of kindergarten to eighth grade, Anthony DeSpirito as principal of ninth through 12th and Teresa Young will continue to serve as district superintendent.The district will also begin offering breakfast to students for the upcoming year. The cost will be $1.15 per student and $2 for adults. Students in grades third through eighth will be served a "grab and go" bagged breakfast to take to homeroom while kindergarten through second will be served breakfast in the cafeteria.