Greensburg Salem reverses $13 million bond decision

The new Greensburg Salem School Board made its first order of business reversing the previous board’s decision to borrow $13 million.

The board’s two new members started their terms this month and, in their first meeting, took part in a 5-4 vote to undo the divisive bond issue.

The board in November voted 6-3 to issue up to $13 million in bonds to pay for high priority building maintenance projects, like a new roof to replace the leaking one at the high school and new HVAC units.

Outgoing board members Charlotte Kemerer and Nicholas Rullo both voted for the bond. They were replaced by Brian Conway and Jonathan O’Brien, who voted against it this month.

Conway and O’Brien declined to comment.

The board had not yet issued any of the bonds. The November vote gave the board authority to issue them piecemeal, as needed for specific projects.

Frank Gazze, who made the motion to reverse the bond decision, said the district will be debt-free in seven years, and he didn’t want to saddle the district with more debt.

“We would never be able to get out of this,” he said.

Backing out of the bonds will not incur any service charges or other expenses to the district, he said.

Board member Robin Savage, who also opposed the bond, said the district needs to take a step back, take a closer look at the proposed maintenance projects, and consider other ways to fund them.

“You can’t put the cart before the horse and say how much money you’re taking out without knowing firm prices,” she said.

The board voted to pursue proposals from Energy Savings Companies (ESCOs), which could provide cost savings on some of the needed projects, Savage said.

Proponents of the bond, including board President Ron Mellinger, said last month that the district’s facilities problems are severe, and it can’t afford to wait.

Gazze said the district will find ways to take care of the most urgent needs, including using its cash reserves.

“If something needs to be fixed, we’ll take care of it,” he said.

The board will meet next month with facilities manager Karl Spudy to take stock of the district’s facilities.

“We need to have a game plan put in order,” Savage said.