logo
School board approves 2022-23 proposed final budget; final approval scheduled for June 15
Shaler Area School Board of Directors approved the 2022-23 school year proposed final budget during a Special Voting Meeting on May 11. The $96,066,348 proposed budget continues the district’s commitment to supporting students’ academic achievement and well-being and improving the safety and security of the district’s facilities with no millage increase.
 
The 2022-23 budget includes revenues of $89,196,239. Shaler Area will balance the budget using $6.87 million of its fund balance, and continual analysis of the budget throughout the year for cost-savings measures. The 2022-23 millage rate will remain at 23.5319 mills. This is the fourth consecutive year that the district has presented a budget with no tax increase. 
 
“As a district, we understand the financial hardship experienced by many over recent years,” said Dr. Sean Aiken, superintendent. “While the school district is not immune to the challenges of rising costs for goods and services and supply chain issues, we are committed to not raising taxes at this time. The administration, staff, and school board are working very hard to scrutinize every budgetary expenditure and identify cost-saving measures without affecting the quality of education or health and safety of district facilities.”
 
The proposed final budget continues Shaler Area’s commitment to quality educational programs through supporting several projects and initiatives. The cost of some of these projects will be offset by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
 
The ESSER Funds are federal stimulus programs that help public schools pay for extra support, for students, teachers, and health-related building improvements during the COVID-19 pandemic. ESSER funds have been made available in three stages – ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III. The program began in 2020 and requires ESSER III funds to be spent by September 2024. Shaler Area received a total of $7.1 million in funds. 
 
To date, the district has spent and allocated $4.6 million of the funds to address learning loss and instruction, Extended School Year and summer programs, a social worker, a school counselor, and behavior specialist services, 1:1 technology and classroom projectors, professional development, and HVAC improvements and personal protective equipment. ESSER funds will be used in the 2022-23 school year to 
  • Address special education learning loss;
  • Support the Project ACE 1:1 iPad initiative;
  • Provide professional development;
  • Continue to install projectors in classrooms;
  • Enhance HVAC systems and air quality in the high school athletic areas;
  • Purchase necessary personal protective equipment;
  • Continue mitigation efforts against COVID-19.
 
In addition, the 2022-23 budget will provide funding for the addition of an English as a Second Language/Academic Support teacher at Shaler Area Middle School as well as all state and federal mandated programs which include unfunded charter school tuition and underfunded special education and transportation expenditures. The budget also includes debt service due to construction projects that have occurred in the district. 
 
Shaler Area continues its commitment to the safety, security, and maintenance of its facilities by designating construction funds for the following projects:
  • Replacing cameras at the High School, Middle School, and Reserve Primary;
  • Replacing flooring in the Middle School cafeteria and Central Office;
  • Replacing the elevator drum at the Middle School;
  • Repaving and repairing the parking lots at Central Office/Middle School and Reserve Primary,
  • Repairing or replacing concrete at the Middle School and Reserve Primary;
  • Repairing the retaining wall at Reserve Primary.
 
The budget will be made available for public inspection on the Business Office webpage (on the right-hand side of the page) no later than 20 days before the final budget approval. Final approval of the 2022-23 budget is scheduled for the June 15 School Board Voting Meeting, which will begin at 7:15 p.m. via a hybrid meeting platform. Information regarding the specifics of the platform will be posted to the district website.
 
Print This Article
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
© 2016. Shaler Area School District. All Rights Reserved - School CMS created by eSchoolView