School board rejects proposed projects budgets (West Chester) - Daily Local News 01/26/2011

The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA


School board rejects proposed projects budgets
Spending plans revert back to West Chester Area committees
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By ERIC S. SMITH, Staff Writer

WEST GOSHEN — The West Chester Area School Board on Monday night rejected proposed 2011-12 school year budgets for capital fund and general fund projects.

Both budgets will be discussed again in committee meetings.

Board members who voted against the budgets said they wanted to ensure that all budgeted items were necessary and that they were trying to be as fiscally responsible as possible.

The proposed $1.04 million budget for capital projects was rejected in a 5-3 vote, with members Sean Carpenter, Maria Pimley, Terri Clark, Heidi Adsett and John Wingerter opposed. Board President Ricky Swalm and members Jeffrey Seagraves and James Smith voted in favor; board member James Davison was absent.

"We seem to have a lot on this list that we should question what is necessary at this point and what can wait," Carpenter said.

The board did vote to pass two items on the originally proposed budget so that the process for those projects could begin immediately. Those projects were the removal of above-ground oil-storage tanks at three elementary schools and the replacement of water-service valves and a pit at Glen Acres Elementary. Those two projects total $300,000. Smith was the lone board member to dissent on that vote.

Carpenter and Pimley both raised concerns over the proposed costs of construction management fees that were in the originally proposed budget. The estimated total for those fees are about $430,000.

Seagraves said the money for the capital projects was already borrowed and that the district had those funds in place. He said the district cannot transfer any money out of the capital fund for any other uses.

Suzanne Moore, director of business affairs for the district, said the money is in the budget and the debt service has been phased into the district's budget.

Pimley said that if the district spends less of the bond now, it could delay the necessity of future borrowing.

The proposed general fund budget was rejected after a 4-4 vote, with Carpenter, Pimley, Clark and Adsett opposed.

Carpenter said he voted against that budget because he had questions about two projects: a roof repair at Hillsdale Elementary and a districtwide energy initiative.

Carpenter said the roof could be repaired rather than replaced, especially because the district is planning to renovate Hillsdale. But Kevin Campbell, director of facilities, said the renovation is not planned until 2021 and the roof "will not last."

Carpenter said the energy initiative was matter of choice for him. "I don't think it's wise to throw away light bulbs for other light bulbs," he said.

Pimley said she voted against the proposed budget in part because of proposed districtwide flooring replacements. The replacements proposed for district schools totaled more than $126,000. She specifically objected to $10,000 proposed to replace carpet in the library at Glen Acres,

"I think we have to learn to work within the economic constraints," Pimley said.

Seagraves said avoiding projects such as the roof replacement could put the safety of students and faculty at risk. He said the facilities department is "an easy dollar to go after in the short run but can be costly in the long run."

The board unanimously approved a $68,000 design fee for the Hillsdale roof project that was part of the district's 2009-10 budget.

Both budgets are slated to be discussed again at the school board's property and finance committee meeting Feb. 21.

To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, send an e-mail to esmith@dailylocal.com.

URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010748393.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property