On Thursday evening, the Pleasant Valley school directors heard from district financial advisor Scott Shearer. Shearer is with the firm of PFM Financial Advisors LLC., which has been advising the district on financial matters for a number of years.

The board is considering taking a $10 million bond to add a new more secure entrance to the high school, and to do repairs and preventive maintenance to the high school roof, boilers and chillers.

Shearer pointed out that the district is in excellent financial shape with regard to its current debt, which is scheduled to be paid off in the next few years. The new loan would be payable over a 15 to 20 year period, depending on which the board chooses.

The final decision on the loan will take place at the June 14 board meeting. As of Thursday evening, all of the directors with the exception of Russell Gould and Delbert Zacharias, were in favor of securing the bond.

While Zacharias refrained from commenting, Gould was more vocal. Earlier in the meeting the board members agreed that even though district business manager Susan Famularo was able to trim more than $500,000 from the upcoming school year budget, the district would still be requesting a 2 mill tax increase. The reason given was that the district needs to fund upkeep and maintenance on the buildings, as well as continue to improve education objectives.

“At some point a homeowner has to put money back into their home to maintain its value,” said director Ken Cocuzzo, “so it’s expected that you would do the same within the district.”

Vice President Sue Kresge agreed with Cocuzzo stressing that while it is important to keep the buildings up, the district needs to continue to bring education up as well.

Gould didn’t completely buy into the concept.

“We are talking about raising taxes, and I just want to know what we are doing. I want a better idea of where we are going,” he said. “We have been talking about renovations to the high school for two years now and discussing going to a full-day kindergarten with up to $1 million dollars in salaries alone.”

District Superintendent David Piperato clarified that the full-time kindergarten salaries could actually be more than the $1 million. Gould had stated that the bond being sought was not for the aforementioned high school renovations.

Piperato suggested the board consider hiring an architectural firm to begin work on designing the high school project, but noted that any actual work on the school would be at least two years into the future.

Gould added that based on the current information, he doubted he would vote yes on the new budget.

Kresge made a statement about the new collective bargaining agreement that was accepted at the last meeting.

“I voted to abstain on the collective bargaining agreement last meeting and I never took the opportunity to say why,” he said. “The reason I abstained was that I have two direct relatives who are part of the collective bargaining unit, and it wouldn’t be right.”

Gould clarified that he had voted no because he believed that the board had gone beyond its pre-set boundaries when it accepted the agreement.

The district also voted on hiring the firm of Fox Rothchild LLP as the new district solicitors. The engagement will run from May 25 until June 30, 2021.

During the meeting Piperato also took the opportunity to address the residents, board members and staff present that evening.

“I just want to say that it has been a busy time, with the awards presentations, the shows and plays and such,” he said. “I thought that I made a good decision coming to Pleasant Valley, but I realize that I really did. I am so blessed to be a part of this and so proud. I want to thank you all.”