The Weatherly Area School Board voted 7-2 last week to pass its budget with no tax increase.

Previous caucus and work sessions seemed to point to a tax increase, especially as the district is in the middle of needed renovations and building upgrades.

At the meeting on June 24, held via Zoom with all members present, the board first voted to reduce the hours of five out of eight paraprofessionals and the hours of a secretary in the district’s business office, so that the six became part-time with no paid health coverage. The vote offered to allow them to buy in to health coverage at 50% (if their union approved), and the secretary could also choose this.

School board President Girard Fewins Sr. explained that the district is facing an $894,796 deficit, and there is no more help coming from the state.

“We met with union leaders (and) looked at all things that could be cut… even transportation. Reducing hours can save 2 mills,” Fewins said.

Other areas considered for cuts included going to half-day kindergarten, cutting other programs and staff, he said.

Two of the five affected employees, leaders of the union representing all eight paraprofessionals, begged with the board members to give them more time for their union to come up with another answer other than these cuts.

There was concern from a parent whose special needs child might lose the aide who has been very effective for him.

She said the district could find cost-savings erased if she needed to send the boy to an outside program.

Malinda Knipfer, a national advocate for special education, agreed with this assessment, adding that keeping special education in the district is more cost effective.

The board then went into executive session for over an hour.

On their return, the board conducted district business, approving coaches, teacher tenures, and rules changes for pupils, employees and, separately, board members. Contracts for school police were approved.

Prior to the vote on the paraprofessionals, board member Bill Knepper asked for support to have another meeting with the unions and Act 93 staff to look for possible concessions. This was supported unanimously.

Board member Gerry Grega stated that “this is not the time” to do this, and later that “it’s the wrong move, cutting these people.”

He offered a motion to table the vote, but lost with only Matt VonFrisch joining him.

The same split vote then passed the reduction of hours motion for the five paraprofessionals, and separately for the transportation secretary, effective July 31.

The vote to approve a $14,713,960 budget passed, with Grega opposed due to the staff cuts. The entire deficit will be drawn from the fund balance, cutting it nearly by half.

Advertising for the bid specs for milling and paving of the Middle School lot was approved.

Business manager and board secretary Natasha Milazzo was authorized to pay bills for operating costs of the district for July, as the WASB will not meet again until August.

During public comments at the close of the meeting, citizen Chrissie Houser pointed out that there are employees in the district getting salary increases in this budget, and she is “not happy that anyone is getting salary increases” while others lose their health care.