Weatherly Area School Board voted to raise taxes 1 mill for the 2021-2022 school year, to 49.84 mills.

The 2021-2022 school year budget will be $15,583,301.

Revenues are short by nearly $1.3 million and will be covered by drawing down the district’s fund balance. The vote to approve the budget, and tax increase, was 7-2. Board President Girard Fewins, Vice President April Walters, William Knepper, Chad Obert, Brian O’Donnell, Matthew vonFrisch and Shay McGee voted in favor of the budget, with Gerard Grega (attending by phone) and Thomas Connors Jr. dissenting.

The board had a rare full complement of directors with director Grega calling in. Grega had some trouble hearing, and being heard. He protested about there not being a Zoom option.

Board members said they accommodated him as they were able.

Also attending the meeting was Dominic Bellucci Jr., who has been hired as the district’s new business manager at a salary of $75,000 per year. He will be taking over on June 21. He was authorized by the board to pay all bills for the month of July, as the board will take a month off.

Similarly, Superintendent Teresa Young was authorized to approve change orders, if they arise, on the upcoming paving project to a maximum of $20,000. Engineers Brinkash & Associates will be monitoring the project.

Recognized as Students of the Month for May were sixth-graders DeAnna Pugh and Jackson DiGennaro, seventh-graders Sienna Brown and Niko Saidukas, and eighth-graders Brooke Hamlett and Ryan Breslosky.

In personnel, another member of the maintenance crew has departed. William Wilkinson resigned effective June 7. The department head is seeking replacements as the crew is down two members this month alone.

Directors voted to approve the Slusser Law Firm to collect delinquent real estate taxes on behalf of the district, on an 8-1 vote. Grega voted no.

The next meeting of the board will be the caucus meeting on Aug. 4.