Tax rate holds steady in Charleroi school budget

By Taylor Brown 

tbrown@yourmvi.com

A collaborative effort by administration and staff will help taxpayers in the Charleroi Area School District.

On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved a roughly $26 million budget for 2021-22.

The spending plan, which is about 1% larger than last year, will keep the tax rate at the same level, which translates to about $17 per $1,000 of assessed value of a home.

While other area districts have faced financial struggles, CASD Business Manager Joseph Gudac said the district was not as negatively impacted by the pandemic as expected. It was able to add a cyber instructor into its plan for the next two years.  

Currently, the district pays for about 70 students to attend school online outside of the district. If only five students opt to attend school online through the district’s program, it would cover the cost of the new position, Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich said. 

Students who attend school online through an in-house program can participate in extracurricular activities including sports, arts and other programs. 

“Whether it be arts, music or history, we are hoping to blend our curriculum to all of our students,” Zelich said. “Allowing them opportunities here is a win-win for our families, students, staff and our entire community.”

Creating such a position despite a tumultuous year is something to be proud of, Zelich said. 

“It was a task,” he added. “To work towards a budget that was feasible for our district, our goals and taxpayers, but also something that put our students first, which is always our top priority.”

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