Monday night’s Bethlehem Area School Board meeting at East Hills Middle School provided an indication that the 2012-2013 budget will stir a lot of debate.

Even though the budget’s preliminary adoption, which faces a sizeable deficit of more than $5 million, was a mere formality required by law, no less than four board members spoke against portions of the budget and two of them - Irene Follweiler and Basilio Bonilla Jr. - voted against it.

“It is time this district starts thinking outside the box because the reality is the money is not there,” Ms. Follweiler said. “We need to be visionary.”

“I am voting against the budget because the district cannot withstand any further cuts to our teachers and programs,” Mr. Bonilla Jr. said.

Two other board members, Aurea Ortiz and Sudantha Vidanage, also addressed concerns about the preliminary budget, but did not vote against its adoption.

“We simply can’t cut any more teachers,” Ms. Ortiz said.

“I think the shareholders, the taxpayers, should be heard,” Mr. Vidanage said, adding that he would like to have as many parents and homeowners attend meetings so that the board was not making the decision in a vacuum.

Much like a vacuum, the preliminary budget would suck more of BASD homeowners’ money through a four percent property tax mileage increase that would cost the average taxpayer about $134 more annually, or about $11.20 per month.

Still the preliminary budget would eliminate 12 teachers.

The preliminary budget proposal eventually passed by a 7-2 vote. Final adoption is scheduled for June 18.

In other board business, the directors approved naming the new Freedom High School Gymnasium in honor of founding principal Joseph McIntyre in dedication to his 43-year tenure with the school district.

Serving first as a history teacher then assistant principal at Liberty High School, the late McIntyre became principal at Freedom in 1967 and was known for his love of sports and his efforts to bring about Title IX legislation, which provided equal opportunities for women athletes.