The Ambridge Area School Board narrowly approved a final $44 million budget for the 2015-16 school year with a tax hike.
The final budget increases taxes by 1.922 mills, or a total of 75.861 mills, and has a shortfall of $1,481,311. The deficit will be taken from the fund balance.
Board members voted 5-4 to approve the spending plan, with board members Mary Jo Kehoe, Roger Kowal, Jeremy Angus, and Rob Keber voting against it.
In other business, the board tabled a decision on the $6.6 million junior high energy services contract with Schneider Electric, pending recommendations from bond counsel for financing.
Pending further research, the board also tabled a decision to have the administrative staff vacate the Leading and Learning Center at the high school in order to repurpose it into a Media Arts Center and reopen the space to teachers and students.
Board member Kim Locher, who cast the only dissenting vote, requested that the matter be placed on the August agenda.
The board also tabled until July a vote to renew the instructional services agreement with Kenneth Nickel, dance program coordinator and dance instructor for the Ambridge Area Arts Academy.
Some board members were concerned that only 10 students are enrolled in the program -- eight from Ambridge -- and that the program wasn't profitable after losing $14,000 in its first year.
Board members voted 5-4 to approve the spending plan, with board members Mary Jo Kehoe, Roger Kowal, Jeremy Angus, and Rob Keber voting against it.
In other business, the board tabled a decision on the $6.6 million junior high energy services contract with Schneider Electric, pending recommendations from bond counsel for financing.
Pending further research, the board also tabled a decision to have the administrative staff vacate the Leading and Learning Center at the high school in order to repurpose it into a Media Arts Center and reopen the space to teachers and students.
Board member Kim Locher, who cast the only dissenting vote, requested that the matter be placed on the August agenda.
The board also tabled until July a vote to renew the instructional services agreement with Kenneth Nickel, dance program coordinator and dance instructor for the Ambridge Area Arts Academy.
Some board members were concerned that only 10 students are enrolled in the program -- eight from Ambridge -- and that the program wasn't profitable after losing $14,000 in its first year.
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