ORWIGSBURG - The Blue Mountain school board said Thursday that it will make a decision on its preliminary budget at its meeting May 23.
The budget will then be on review before its final adoption in June. The budget must be adopted by June 30.
The school board hasn't made any decisions on the $1.4 million deficit it faces for the 2013-14 school year, although the board did say previously that it would not increase taxes more than 0.79 mills, or $41.55 for a homeowner with a home assessed at $52,600, district business manager Michelle Diekow said.
To fill the budget gap, the district has proposed furloughing teachers and curtailing some programs, like art and music.
Members from the public - some of them students - made their voices heard Thursday at the school board's monthly meeting in the Blue Mountain Elementary East cafeteria.
"When I heard that there was some issue with the budget and the arts were originally under the ax, I was angry and I still am angry in a lot of ways because I've worked with kids for the first time. These kids need this (speaking of the arts). Our society doesn't move forward with just math and science," said Lance Rautzhan, a North Manheim Township resident and former school district student who is an artist and also lives in New York. He was the artist in residence at the high school.
Superintendent Robert Urzillo said previously that programs would not be eliminated but "curtailed."
Michael John Selbig, 54, of Orwigsburg, asked why the board has taken so long to fix the budget mess.
"Everyone is responsible for the problems that our school districts in the state in general are having," he said.
He said there has to be a better way to balance the budget than teacher furloughs.
"It may take sacrifices by everyone," he said.
His daughter, Janelle Selbig, 17, a junior at the high school, said that creative classes make her who she is.
"Tell them its OK to be creative," she said. "If we cut these teachers, what are we teaching?"
Joseph Ritzko, a member of the student budget committee, a group of nine or 10 high school students, asked the board why there were increases in certain areas.
Board president Mary Jo Moss said the board has been working diligently on the budget since November 2012.
"I'm happy to have the input. I think it's positive. The board cares about the arts and we are trying to find solutions just like the people is, just like the staff is," Moss said.
"We're looking at the long term and by curtailing the programs we hope to save it for the future," said board Vice President David Lafko.
The board will vote on its preliminary budget at its 7 p.m. May 23 board meeting at Blue Mountain Middle School.