Nazareth School Board Adopts $67 Million Budget, Driver Education Back on the Table

With six votes to one, the Nazareth School Board adopted a nearly $67 million budget Monday night that includes a 1.7 percent tax increase and about $2.1 million in cuts.

For the average household in the Nazareth Area School District, a 1.7 percent tax increase would mean an extra $58 per year, or 21 cents per day, explained Superintendent Victor Lesky at the board’s April 11 meeting.

Vice President Maurice Heller was the lone “no” vote. 

“I don’t think all parties have stepped up to support the budget,” Heller told board members.  “I know [administrators have] worked hard on [the budget], but I cannot support it at this point.”

The adopted budget includes the “elimination” of 13 jobs -- seven of them teacher positions -- and eliminating the driver education program.

Although 13 positions are being eliminated, according to Lesky, the plan is to transfer the affected individuals into different positions within the district, depending on the certifications each possesses. 

The nearly $2.1 million in cuts include:

• Two special education teachers (Academic Support Program)
• Two technology specialists (Teacher Leaders)
• Two driver education teachers, which would eliminate the driver education program
• A family consumer science teacher from the middle school
• Two custodial positions by attrition
• Printed school calendars
• School Security Measures -- Four high school monitor positions will be cut and one middle school monitor’s hours will be cut to three hours
• Eliminating the Central Duplicating Center

However, at least one item, the , may return to the district’s curriculum.

“A number of members from the community and a number of board members asked me to restore the program, and the administration looked into how to efficiently do that,” Lesky said.

In his proposal, Lesky said the district could subcontract the program, but that option would cost each student $400 to $500.

“I don’t think the program would be successful at that expense because I don’t think our students would pay that amount to be a part of the program,” Lesky continued.

Instead, Lesky is proposing one driver education classroom and one teacher who would receive full benefits.

This option would cost the district more than $127,000, according to Lesky, but the district would charge each student $250 for the six hours of on-the-road instruction. The fee would also help cover gas and vehicle maintenance.

“If 250 students pay $250, that amounts to $62,500 coming back to the district,” Lesky explained.

 The district also receives a donation from Northampton County AAA.

The driver education proposal was tabled, but can be brought back into the district’s curriculum despite last night's budget adoption.

The June 27 meeting will be the last time the board can make any changes to the budget.

That said, added Lesky, the tax increase will remain at 1.7 percent, and any changes must be within the parameters of the adopted budget.

“If you decide in June you would like to add [driver education back into] the curriculum, there will not be a tax increase with that proposal,” Lesky said. “[Additions] would have to be within the dollars we adopt tonight.” 

In the coming week, Lesky plans to present a finalized agreement between the district, the Nazareth Area School District Management Association and the Nazareth Area School District NAESPA – Support Association.

According to Lesky, 27 administrators have offered to lower their pay raises to 1.7 percent from 3.75 percent.  Administrators have said they would accept a zero percent pay raise, but only if other employees do the same.

“There is currently a tentative agreement, which is certainly going to help us in moving forward,” Lesky said. “By looking at the long term and by giving up a good portion of the pay raise will allow us to put those dollars to other programs and services.  Once those agreements are signed and finalized, I will present them to the public.”

The Nazareth Area Education Association and the Nazareth Area Educational Support Personnel Association have yet to respond to the board’s request to accept a zero percent pay raise, according to Lesky.