BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area School District board hired a behavioral specialist at its meeting Monday evening, Nov. 13, in response to the uptick in behavioral issues that arose in the 2022 school year.

District superintendent Brian White said district administrators planned for the hiring in this year’s budget. He said the district now has two staff members specifically hired to address behavioral issues in schools.

“This person is more tactical, on-the-ground work,” White said of the new hire, Amanda Anke, who will be paid $35,000 per year.

Also at the meeting, the board voted to accept a 2020 tax assessment appeal from Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, which means the Butler Township business will pay about $12,000 less per year to the district.

Heather Bonzo, director of finance and operations for the district, said the business paid $84,963 in 2021, and that number is being reduced to $72,700. The district will have to pay the business back, because the assessment appeal began in 2020.

The tax assessment appeal said Lowe’s’ initially assessed value in 2021 was about $816,000. The approval of the appeal means the business’ new assessed value will be reduced to $600,000 in 2024.

“A $12,000 decrease, so we’ll owe them about $24,000 in refunds for the previous years,” Bonzo said. “The current year would be down $18,000, roughly in tax revenue, and next year we’ll be down $22,000.”

The school board surprised White with a commendation honoring his seven years as superintendent in the district, and board member Mary Waggoner was recognized because the meeting was her last before her term expires at the end of the year. She said she feels like the district is in a good place thanks to White.

White thanked the board members for the commendation, and said he was happy they allowed him to hire the best people for the administrative jobs that lead the district’s departments.