Baldwin-Whitehall School District Closer To Passing Controversial Budget

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- By a 7-2 vote, the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board of Directors moves one step closer to passing a controversial $62.4 million budget.

"If we continue to ignore the deficit and the shrinking fund balance, by the 2018-2019 school year, we will be on the state watch list with a negative fund balance of $3.9 million," said board president Tracy Masek.

The budget includes cuts of 13 professional jobs and bumps 22 full-time service positions down to part-time status.

"I am here to show support for the staff of this district whose jobs and hours you want to cut. The positions on the line are the most essential to the health, safety and well-being of the children we as parents trust you with on a daily basis," said parent Rayann Harper.

"There is only one cafeteria employee until 9:45 a.m. at Harrison, so students who want breakfast are late for class in the morning. Breakfast bars are the only items being served for breakfast," said BWESA Union president Nancy Omeis.

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The budget also includes an increase in school taxes by .83 mills, all in an effort to wipe out a projected $2.1 million deficit. The tax bump is one reason some members voted against the budget.

"You need a school district where taxes are fair and reasonable, but where children are not left out in the cold," said board director Martin Michael Schmotzer.

Yet other board directors said the financial reality can't be denied.

"n five years we are going to be doing this all over again, so when do we want to do it? Do we want to do it now? Do we want to do it then? And I am not saying we have to do everything we are proposing," said school board director Dr. Anthony DiCesaro.

By passing the budget draft, it now can be opened to the public for inspection. The final board vote on the measure comes next month.