Plum School Board Notebook: March Voting Meeting

Plum schools are facing a $2.7 million budget deficit after Gov. Tom Corbett's announcement of education budget cuts in March.

School officials originally projected a $2.4 million deficit in February.

The state reduced the district's funding by $1.9 million for the 2011-2012 school year compared to the current year.

Days before Corbett announced budget cuts, the Plum School Board had narrowed its projected deficit from $3.6 million in January to an $800,000 shortfall, finance committee chairman Andrew Drake said. 

Pivik School Update

Plum awarded Nello Construction $14.9 million to build the new Pivik Elementary School at Monday's board meeting.

The school board voted 6-3 to approve the contract, with Shane McMasters, Kevin Dowdell and Andrew Drake opposing the bid.

The award includes spending an additional $381,000 to install air conditioning throughout the building.

“The most important thing was the right environmental aspect, and air conditioning in the school was the right thing to do,” board member Sal Colella said.

Board member Loretta White said she voted for the construction costs with the air conditioning installation because of cost savings.

“If we do it later, it’s going to cost us twice as much as I understand,” White said.

The school district borrowed $19.7 million last year to fund the construction of the new Pivik Elementary School as well as remodeling Adlai Stevenson and Holiday Park elementary schools. 

Food Service Workers Entering New Bargain Agreement

The school board unanimously approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with district’s food service workers.

The workers agreed to a 25-cent per hour wage increase over the next three years, Colella said.

“It seems to me the people who make the least understand the most about the position that we’re in,” he said. 

District Seeking Sponsors for School Sports Programs

The district has entered a contract with School Sports Media LLC, which helps companies advertise through sports programs.

“We retain total control over who we will allow to sponsor and to what level they will sponsor,” said Tom McGough, athletic committee chairman.

“This is a viable opportunity to augment our school’s sports budget,” Colella said.

The contract includes a 90-day out clause.