Board Approves Budget with
No Tax Increase
Mars Area School Board voted unanimously in favor of Mars Area School District ’ s 2017-2018 General Fund Budget of $ 47.8 million with no millage increase .
The approved budget is the 10th consecutive with no real estate tax increase . Taxes will remain at 99 mills .
“ This is the 10th year without a millage increase for our residents . It represents conservative budgeting , tight management , and good decision making on behalf of our students , staff and the taxpayers ,” says Dayle Ferguson , Board president . “ We will have some new programs and some new opportunities this year and are very proud of this budget .” The 2017-2018 General Fund Budget is 4.3 percent ($ 2,000,000 ) higher than the 2016-2017 budget of $ 45.8 million . District revenue from local , state and federal sources is anticipated to net a $ 1.7 million increase and will be used to offset expense increases .
Approximately $ 43 million ( 89.5 percent ) of the budget is earmarked for fixed costs such as salaries , benefits , retirement ,
transportation , cyber and special education . The remaining $ 4.8 million in budget expenditures will be used to pay for other District operations .
The District ’ s educational program is primarily funded by the hometown tax base , which represents 71 percent of all District revenue sources . The increase in state support is $ 647,000 , $ 310,000 of which is from the rise in the mandatory pension contribution for the 2017-2018 School Year . Singledigit percentage increases in the pension contribution rate are anticipated for future years unless a legislative solution at the state level is achieved .
The 2017-2018 General Fund Budget will be made available for public review at marsk12 . org as well as at the District ’ s Administration Office and school buildings . Questions or comments regarding the budget may be submitted to Mars Area School Board via e-mail at masdboard @ marsk12 . org or at any public Board meetings .
For more information , call 724.625.1518 . cKeesport AREA
CITY MARS OF AREA MCKEESPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS NEWS
High School Names 2017 Valedictorian & Salutatorian
Claire Staresinic
Evan Deddo
Mars Area graduates Claire Staresinic and Evan Deddo were named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2017 , respectively .
Claire Staresinic , 18 , daughter of Ken and Maria Staresinic of Valencia , served as co-president of National Honor Society , Student Council representative to the School Board , Speech & Debate Team co-chair and Hometown High-Q Team captain . She was a member of Honors Band and National German Honor Society ( Delta Epsilon Phi ) Chapter , and was a four-year cast member in Mars Area High School ’ s annual fall play .
Staresinic is a 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist and an AP Merit Scholar with Honor . She was named a 2017 Trib Total Media Outstanding Young Citizen Program Gold Medalist as well as to the 2017 American Association of Teachers of German ( AATG ) National German Exam for High School Students Level 4 Bronze Presidential Honor Roll .
She received first place in the Poetry Recitation category at
46 Mars Area the 2017 Three Rivers German Day , took first place overall ( with graduate Abby Parsons ) in the Duo Interpretation category at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League ( PHSSL ) District 2 Qualifier , and was selected for the 2016 PMEA All-State Band .
She is a National Elks Foundation Scholar and a recipient of the PEO ( Philanthropic Educational Organization ) International Star Scholarship , Ralph B . Canterbury Scholarship ( Clearview Federal Credit Union ), Student Council Scholarship , High School Service Award and a Distinction Diploma Seal .
Staresinic has participated in Junior Olympic Archery for the past seven years . In 2015 , she took first place in the Female Cadet Recurve Bow competition at the Pennsylvania State Archery Association ( PSAA ) Indoor Championship .
In the community , she has volunteered at Mars Home for Youth , Animal Friends , Family Psychological Associates and Clarion Psychiatric Center .
Staresinic will attend the Honors Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , where she plans to major in Pre-Med .
Evan Deddo , 18 , son of Kenneth and Deborah Deddo of Valencia , was a member of National Honor Society and a four-year letterman on Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Cross Country Team . He holds a Pennsylvania “ You Be the Chemist ” Challenge state title and has participated in the MathCounts competition at the state level .
Deddo is a 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist and was selected for PMEA All-State Orchestra in both 2015 and 2016 . He is the recipient of the 2017 Butler Road Race Inc . Scholarship and The Edward & Bethel Kean Foundation STEM Scholarship .
He received the National Federation of Music Clubs ( NFMC ) President ’ s Gold Cup for Piano Solo and has earned a “ Superior ” rating in each of his 12 years of participation in the adjudication program . In addition , Deddo is a principal violinist with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra , which is performed a fourcity concert tour in Spain this summer .
Deddo will attend the University of California — Berkeley as a physics major .
For more information on the valedictorian , salutatorian and honors selection process , visit the “ Mars Area High School ” page at marsk12 . org , and click on the “ Class Rank Determination ” link under “ For Students ” or call 724.625.1581 .