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Shaler Area School Board approves the 2016-17 budget
Shaler Area School Board of Directors approved the 2016-2017 school year budget, which maintains the district’s competitive academic programming, during its June 15 meeting.

The $77,913,349 budget includes a 0.69-mill increase, which will generate $1,365,000. The new millage rate will be 22.56 mills. The increase will add an additional $69 (or $5.75 per month) to a homeowner’s tax bill with an assessed property value of $100,000.

“As has been our message since we started the 2016-17 school year budget process, our goal is to be fiscally responsible and operationally efficient in order to maintain strong academic programs for the students in which we serve,” said Superintendent Sean Aiken.

The 2016-17 budget funds the continuation of curricular initiatives including the Project ACE 1:1 iPad Initiative, which provides all middle school and high school students with an iPad for educational use.

Successful grant-writing campaigns also will provide additional funds to continue improvements to the district’s curriculum. A $20,000 STEAM grant awarded through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Center for Creativity will expand the STEAM initiative into the K-1 level with Project Caboose, and a $9,400 grant awarded through the Highmark Foundation will update aging equipment in the high schools’ physical education department and weight room.

The 2016-17 budget also maintains the district’s commitment to providing a safe learning environment by allotting funds for additional improvements to the security features in buildings across the district. The district also was awarded a $25,000 Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grant through the state Department of Education, which will upgrade of the high school’s proximity card reader system.

Similar to many school districts across the state, Shaler Area is faced with financial challenges created from the delayed state budget and delayed funding of PlanCon reimbursements and Social Security payments, as well as increasing PSERS costs and mandated expenses.

One of the largest increases to expenditures in the 2016-17 budget is realized in the increasing PSERS (Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System) contributions. From the 2010-11 to 2016-17 school year, Shaler Area’s PSERS net contribution increased by $4.6 million. It is estimated to reach $5.5 million in the 2016-17 school year.

The largest expenditure of the budget, about 73 percent, covers the cost of salaries and benefits for District employees. District administration utilized an aggressive attrition model to reduce salaries and benefits without having to utilize furloughs. The combined cost for salaries and benefits in the 2016-17 budget is $57 million.

The budget can be found in its entirety on the Business Office page.
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1800 Mt. Royal Boulevard     Glenshaw, PA. 15116     P 412-492-1200     F 412-492-1236
1800 Mt. Royal Boulevard Glenshaw, PA. 15116 P 412-492-1200 F 412-492-1236
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