Ambridge Area School Board of Directors Approves 2018-2019 Operating Budget
The Ambridge Area School Board of Directors approved a 2018-2019 Operating Budget Wednesday
evening that will enhance academic opportunities District-wide, while affording much-needed
upgrades to infrastructure and technology. The budget was approved by a vote of 5 to 2, board members who voted no, Pedigo and Kehoe.
Budget highlights include:
Technology
• Upgrades to the Middle School wireless service at a cost of $38,103;
• Four new laptop carts for the schools and a new laptop lab for the Middle School at a cost
of $140,465;
• Purchase of 30 new laptops and 200 new iPads at a cost of $166,995; and
• New projectors purchased for $75,190 and existing projectors upgraded for $17,000.
Thanks to an E-Rate grant secured by District Technology Supervisor Ms. Lori Heim, 80 percent
of the cost of the wireless upgrades at the Middle School will be covered.
Security
• Upgrading the security operating system;
• New and replacement cameras District-wide;
• District radios to improve communication among buildings/administrators; and
• Card access for elevators.
Curriculum
• New Grade 6-8 Math Textbooks;
• New Grade 3-12 Social Studies Textbooks;
• New High School Physics, Honors, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science Textbooks;
• NMSI grant ($750,000) used to align and increase the rigor of the science, math and English
curriculum District-wide. The terms of the three-year grant require the District to contribute
$25,000 annually for the life of the grant to be used for staff development. Grant money
through the partnership also will be used to dramatically increase the number of Ambridge
students enrolled in AP courses and allow the District to provide an additional five AP
courses beyond the eight already offered; and
• Assessment to Instruction (A2i) grant that will be used to help all students in the District
reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade. A2i is an instructional tool that
was developed and evaluated for more than a decade with the support of the Institute of
Educational Sciences and the National Institutes of Health. It combines technology and
professional development to accomplish the goal of increased literacy of children in grades
K-3. Highland Elementary will be 100 percent funded and State Street Elementary will be
50 percent funded through the program. Only 174 schools in the nation were invited to
participate in the grant program.
“Some of these textbooks date back to 1990,” said Mr. Doug McCausland, Director of District
Operations. The new math series is budgeted at $95,832 and the Science textbooks total $116,000.
The District is able to pay for the Social Studies textbooks, totaling $61,048, over a two-year period.
Facilities/Middle School
Under the direction of AASD Facilities Manager Mr. David Matzie, more than $600,000 in capital
improvements are built into the new budget and include:
• Locker replacement at Middle School - $89,720
• Patching at Economy Elementary - $150,000
• Flooring and Window Coverings at Middle School - $56,490
• Stage Lighting at Middle School - $40,000
• Bridge repairs at High School - $75,000
• Bathroom replacements/upgrades at Middle School - $276,500
• Bathroom sink sensors and mixing valves at High School - $11,500
• Gymnasium painting, backboards and lighting at Middle School - $120,000
• Furniture replacement at Middle School - $75,000
“We’re moving in the right direction. We’re attacking maintenance issues that haven’t been addressed
in years,” said Dr. Jo Welter, Superintendent. “We’re making use of the staff we have and taking care
of the facilities we have while being good stewards of taxpayer money.”
The $49.49 million budget includes a millage increase of 2.1409 mills, or 2.7 percent. With the
increase, the new millage rate will be 81.435 mills. One mill in the District generates approximately
$267,000 in tax revenue. The median assessed value for a home in AASD is $23,450. With the new
millage rate, the increased tax liability will be $50.21 annually.
“No district likes to adopt a budget with a tax increase,” said Dr. Welter. “We have done a lot to reduce
costs within reason but are left with the reality that a tax increase is necessary if we want to provide a
quality education to our students.”
Among the cost-saving efforts the District made prior to presenting the final budget included:
• Reducing, through attrition, five professional staffing positions, at a savings of $743,028;
• Anticipated profits of the AASD Food Services Department of an estimated $150,000;
• Savings in health insurance costs for employees through the transition to the Allegheny School
Health Consortium.
The 2018-2019 budget is available on the District website here.
The Ambridge Area School Board of Directors approved a 2018-2019 Operating Budget Wednesday
evening that will enhance academic opportunities District-wide, while affording much-needed
upgrades to infrastructure and technology. The budget was approved by a vote of 5 to 2, board members who voted no, Pedigo and Kehoe.
Budget highlights include:
Technology
• Upgrades to the Middle School wireless service at a cost of $38,103;
• Four new laptop carts for the schools and a new laptop lab for the Middle School at a cost
of $140,465;
• Purchase of 30 new laptops and 200 new iPads at a cost of $166,995; and
• New projectors purchased for $75,190 and existing projectors upgraded for $17,000.
Thanks to an E-Rate grant secured by District Technology Supervisor Ms. Lori Heim, 80 percent
of the cost of the wireless upgrades at the Middle School will be covered.
Security
• Upgrading the security operating system;
• New and replacement cameras District-wide;
• District radios to improve communication among buildings/administrators; and
• Card access for elevators.
Curriculum
• New Grade 6-8 Math Textbooks;
• New Grade 3-12 Social Studies Textbooks;
• New High School Physics, Honors, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science Textbooks;
• NMSI grant ($750,000) used to align and increase the rigor of the science, math and English
curriculum District-wide. The terms of the three-year grant require the District to contribute
$25,000 annually for the life of the grant to be used for staff development. Grant money
through the partnership also will be used to dramatically increase the number of Ambridge
students enrolled in AP courses and allow the District to provide an additional five AP
courses beyond the eight already offered; and
• Assessment to Instruction (A2i) grant that will be used to help all students in the District
reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade. A2i is an instructional tool that
was developed and evaluated for more than a decade with the support of the Institute of
Educational Sciences and the National Institutes of Health. It combines technology and
professional development to accomplish the goal of increased literacy of children in grades
K-3. Highland Elementary will be 100 percent funded and State Street Elementary will be
50 percent funded through the program. Only 174 schools in the nation were invited to
participate in the grant program.
“Some of these textbooks date back to 1990,” said Mr. Doug McCausland, Director of District
Operations. The new math series is budgeted at $95,832 and the Science textbooks total $116,000.
The District is able to pay for the Social Studies textbooks, totaling $61,048, over a two-year period.
Facilities/Middle School
Under the direction of AASD Facilities Manager Mr. David Matzie, more than $600,000 in capital
improvements are built into the new budget and include:
• Locker replacement at Middle School - $89,720
• Patching at Economy Elementary - $150,000
• Flooring and Window Coverings at Middle School - $56,490
• Stage Lighting at Middle School - $40,000
• Bridge repairs at High School - $75,000
• Bathroom replacements/upgrades at Middle School - $276,500
• Bathroom sink sensors and mixing valves at High School - $11,500
• Gymnasium painting, backboards and lighting at Middle School - $120,000
• Furniture replacement at Middle School - $75,000
“We’re moving in the right direction. We’re attacking maintenance issues that haven’t been addressed
in years,” said Dr. Jo Welter, Superintendent. “We’re making use of the staff we have and taking care
of the facilities we have while being good stewards of taxpayer money.”
The $49.49 million budget includes a millage increase of 2.1409 mills, or 2.7 percent. With the
increase, the new millage rate will be 81.435 mills. One mill in the District generates approximately
$267,000 in tax revenue. The median assessed value for a home in AASD is $23,450. With the new
millage rate, the increased tax liability will be $50.21 annually.
“No district likes to adopt a budget with a tax increase,” said Dr. Welter. “We have done a lot to reduce
costs within reason but are left with the reality that a tax increase is necessary if we want to provide a
quality education to our students.”
Among the cost-saving efforts the District made prior to presenting the final budget included:
• Reducing, through attrition, five professional staffing positions, at a savings of $743,028;
• Anticipated profits of the AASD Food Services Department of an estimated $150,000;
• Savings in health insurance costs for employees through the transition to the Allegheny School
Health Consortium.
The 2018-2019 budget is available on the District website here.
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