Monessen City School District: Preliminary budget keeps tax rate steady
By Michael Richter
mrichter@yourmvi.com
Monessen School Board intends to adopt a preliminary budget for the 2024-25 school year at its voting meeting next week.
Business manager Jeff Festor informed the board Tuesday that the budget’s total amount is $18.8 million. As of now, it does not include a tax increase for property owners, but that could change by the time the budget is officially adopted in June.
The draft spending plan will be posted on the school’s website, monessenschooldistrict.com, if it’s approved at the May 14 meeting.
Also Tuesday, the board also discussed altering the 2024-25 school calendar.
Board President Doreen Smith suggested shortening the district’s spring break.
“There’s six days for spring break, and then the kids come back on (April) 22 and the PSSA starts at that time,” she said.
Smith feels as though students are worn out from the school year by May.
“And we’re keeping them after Memorial Day next year, all the way through the first week of June,” she said.
Several board members agreed.
“I think (six days) is excessive; I think they need three,” Director Mark Panicucci said.
Superintendent Robert Motte said he added more days to spring break because many other districts have done the same, and teachers tend to be burned out by that point in the year.
Several board members also suggested closing the schools Nov. 5 for Election Day.
“There’s going to be way too many people in here,” Panicucci said.
Director Sharon Mauck agreed, saying it would cause traffic and personnel problems.
The board will vote to adopt a school calendar for 2024-25 at next week’s meeting.
Also next week, the board will vote on whether to:
• Approve an agreement with Adelphoi Education for alternative education services and the Your Educational Success program for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Approve a two-year agreement with Redstone Rehabilitation Services to provide physical and occupational therapy.
• Approve the hirings of Kiana Arvinger as head cheer coach for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Approve the hiring of Rebecca Pallini as assistant cheer coach and Siyah Wilson Frost as a volunteer cheer coach for the 2024-25 school year.
