HEGINS - Taxpayers in the Tri-Valley School District will have to dig a little deeper into their wallets for the 2014-15 school year.
Last Wednesday, the board voted 8-1 in favor of a 0.801-mill increase with a preliminary budget expenditure of $22,551,437, an increase over last year's budget.
Mark Snyder, Ph.D., district superintendent, was unavailable to explain the budget to give a reason for the increase.
School director Diane Dietrich cast the only "no" vote on the issue.
The board also adopted the resolutions to support the budget including the real estate tax of 30.490 mills; per capita tax, $5; per capita Act 511 tax, $5; occupation tax, 1 percent; real estate transfer tax, 1 percent; local services tax, $10 and earned income tax, half of 1 percent.
Joanne Risso, a mother with students in the district, expressed concerns to the board regarding the lack of hiring a full-time music teacher for the elementary division.
Risso talked about how important music is in a child's life and told the board how dedicated Katelynn Dunn is to the elementary instrumental music program. Risso asked that the board reconsider and offer Dunn a full-time position. The board took no action on the request.
Concerning another matter, the Lady Dawgs basketball team will be under the direction of a new head coach for the upcoming season. The board hired Clark Romberger for the position at a salary of $3,390.
The board also hired Denise Williard as head cheerleader adviser at a salary of $1,400, and hired the following teachers: Jessica Allvord, elementary teacher, $38,850; Heather Hornung, high school life skills teacher, $39,200; Amanda Pallo, district librarian, $38,200; Jenna Shaffer, German teacher (pending clearances), $38,200.
The board accepted the resignation of Nicole Snyder, girls' soccer coach. Board members said her resignation is due to her doing graduate work.