Jan 25, 2017 By Cara Host 3 min read

The Bethel Park School Board honored Dorothy Stark, director of elementary education, for her 19 years in the district. Stark retired in January, and the board presented her with a crystal plaque at its Jan. 24 meeting.

“She served this district well in every capacity we asked her to serve,” board President Donna Cook said.

Cook noted that Stark filled many different roles during her tenure at Bethel Park. She was principal at William Penn Elementary, principal at Lincoln Elementary and held various other administrative positions in-between. Before becoming an administrator, Stark was a French teacher.

“It has been a wonderful ride with some great people, great teachers and great children,” Stark said.

The board also approved a preliminary budget for 2017-18. The spending plan, at $86.6 million, is more than 3 percent larger than the current budget and would likely require a property tax increase, but district officials said the budgetary process is still in the very early stages. The numbers will likely change dramatically from now until the board passes a final budget in May or June.

“This is probably not even close to what our budget is going to be,” said Leonard Corazzi, district director of finance and operations.

In most circumstances, state law requires school boards to pass preliminary budgets in January or February, with the final versions adopted by June. The state also limits school boards’ ability to raise property taxes above the index, a calculation based on cost-of-living and inflation. Bethel Park’s index is set at 3 percent. School boards that need to raise taxes above the index have to either seek voter approval or an exception through the state Department of Education.

Bethel Park will seek an exception for pension costs and special education expenses.

Also during the meeting:

• Changed schedules for several school nurses. The health services nurse at Independence Middle School will work an additional half hour a week, by adding 15 minutes to the schedule two days a week. Four other nurses at Franklin, Memorial, Lincoln and Washington elementary schools will also arrive and leave 15 minutes later one to two days a week. Administrators said the changes were necessary to serve the special needs of certain students.

• Rejected a plan to make salary adjustments for varsity football coaches. The measure failed 1-7, with Pamela Dobos casting the lone vote in favor of the plan. Director Barry Christenson was absent.

• Accepted retirements from Thomas Allman, physical education teacher, and Harry Mulholland, guidance counselor, both at Independence Middle School. Both will retire at the end of the school year.

• Hired two long-term substitutes, Danielle Thomas, art teacher at Independence Middle School, and Jenna Mansfield, kindergarten teacher at William Penn.

• Agreed to purchase equipment for the renovation at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. A generator and transfer switch will cost $25,057; lights and ballasts will cost $14,401; two, 60-ton, Carrier chillers will cost $60,978; a five module boiler system will cost $35,774.