Sharon City school board delays building renovation plans

SHARON, Pa.-- Sharon City school directors aren't quite ready to commit themselves to a $7.6 million renovation of Case Avenue Elementary School.
The school board voted Monday to table a recommendation from Superintendent Richard Rossi that the proposed project be sent to the state Department of Education for review and preliminary approval.
James Wolf, district business manager, said board members were reluctant to incur the tax increase that would accompany the project before they finalize the 2002-03 budget.
That document must be in place by June 30.
The district is looking at borrowing a total of $10 million for ongoing building improvements. It's already borrowed and nearly spent $28 million on improvements at West Hill and Musser elementary schools and the middle/high school.
The district still needs about $1.8 million to complete the high school project and, if the board approves the plans, $7.6 million for Case Avenue, $300,000 for locker-room improvements at the high school and $525,000 for various improvements at the Educational Service Center which houses central administration offices.
Borrowing $10 million will require a 1.743-mill property tax increase in each of the next three years to pay off the debt, school officials have been told. One mill costs the average residential taxpayer about $15 a year.