Moon School Board Rejects Preliminary Budget, Purchases Student Security System

Moon Area School Board members voted down a proposed $64.42 million proposed 2013-2014 budget that included a tax increase, in a 5-to-3 vote Monday. 

The Post-Gazette reports school administrators had included a slight tax increase in the spending plan that would have enabled the district to cover a $2.5 million shortfall in the budget. 

Administrators also announced a new capital spending plan for improvements to district facilities over the next five years, including a $572,000 football field turf replacement and $640,000 roof replacement at Brooks Elementary, according to the newspaper. 

The district also purchased a visitor badging and tracking system for each of its five neighborhood elementary schools.

The system is provided by School Checkin, Inc. at a cost not to exceed $8,000, said district spokeswoman Megan Edwards in a statement. 

The system, which tracks visitors entering and leaving buildings, will be installed at the school in the coming weeks. 

The board will meet again at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 for a special meeting to consider the upcoming year's preliminary general fund budget. 

Other items of interest: 

• The board approved change orders related to the middle school renovation project at an increased cost of $3,289. 

• The board approved the purchase of two reach-in refrigerators to replace non-functioning ones for both Brooks and Hyde elementarily at a cost of $4,461.

• The board approved the purchase of a SaltDogg Poly/Electric Hopper Spreader at a cost of $4,295.