Faced with hard decisions crafting the 2002-03 budget, West Middlesex school directors Thursday haggled over a furniture order that included a $500 chair and heard of district needs not included in the proposed spending plan.

The district is in the process of renovating Oakview Elementary School. Greer Hayden of HHSDR Architects and Engineers, Sharon, presented directors with a list of $89,000 worth of furniture for Oakview.

That list included new students desks and chairs, conference tables and chairs, bookcases and $6,000 worth of administrative office furniture.

Board President Thomas Hubert said he would like to wait on purchasing furniture for the administration in favor of buying the cafeteria tables, which aren't on the list.

Citing $500 for a chair for the principal's office, Hubert said he thinks the proposed furniture is too expensive.

"We're on a K-Mart budget here and we've got Saks Fifth Avenue furniture," Hubert said. "Maybe I'm just shell-shocked by the prices."

Hayden said the suggested furniture is not top-of-the-line but it is serviceable and will last at least 25 years, provided the furniture is not abused.

Directors discussed the possibility of buying new cafeteria furniture now. Several directors said they're concerned the feet of the old tables will damage the new wood floor being put in the cafeteria.

Director Connie David said she would rather buy the cafeteria furniture and look at taking money from the general fund budget for the office furniture.

Director Warden Burger made a motion to remove the office furniture from the list for re-examination. The vote failed, 4 to 4, with Burger, Hubert, Walter Gelesky and Mrs. David voting yes and Marshall Campbell, Kevin Kirk, Gary Koncar and Arlene Repko voting no. Director Dale Shrawder was not at the meeting.

A subsequent motion to buy all the furniture on the list also failed.

Then, Gelesky made a motion to authorize Hayden to order the furniture for students -- essentially the same motion Burger made previously -- and the motion passed unanimously.

Hayden said he will research other office furniture options and the cost of new cafeteria tables.

Directors also discussed the proposed $11.3 million budget that includes a 4.5-mill tax hike. Superintendent Al Jones told the board there are a number of things not included in the budget that need done, including high school roof repairs, new textbooks, computers and improvements to the football bleachers.

According to district figures, a mill of taxes costs the average taxpayer $18, so the proposed tax increase would cost $81.

Though no cuts were made during the three-hour long budget meeting, directors did tell Jones to direct $80,000 towards new textbooks and $40,000 towards new computers for the district.

The additional $120,000 will not increase taxes. Directors will have to decide to take fund balance money or cut other items from the budget.

The board also authorized the building and grounds department to get bids to fix the high school roof.

The deadline for passing a final budget is June 30.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at

kgarrett@sharon-herald.com