Penn Hills school directors were unanimous in adopting a $77 million budget that included no tax increase but were divided on whether to move forward on plans for an elementary center for grades kindergarten to four.

They voted 5-3 to authorize Architectural Innovations LLC, of Ross, to begin designing the elementary center. Carolyn Faggioli, Catherine Mowry and Erin Vecchio dissented.

Plans to move forward on an elementary center, which would consolidate students from four elementary schools, was criticized by several parents and Ms. Vecchio.

"One elementary is a total mistake," she said. "I have heard from too many parents that they want smaller schools in the neighborhoods."

Ms. Vecchio added that the location of the center at the current Dible Elementary School at 1079 Jefferson Road will produce traffic problems.

The elementary center is part of the district's reconfiguration and building plan consisting of three separated but connected buildings for kindergarten-grade 2, grades 3-4 and the administrative offices. Grade five students would attend the middle school.

The building plan also includes a grades 9-12 high school on the site that now accommodates the high school and the former Roberts Elementary School, which has been serving as the administration building. The school board previously authorized Architectural Innovations to begin designing the new high school.

Linton Middle School will remain intact but will undergo improvements.

School officials have said that all new construction and renovation is expected to be completed by the start of the 2012-13 school year.

Parents at the meeting asked the board to delay the vote on the elementary center and to provide evidence that a large school would educate students as well as smaller schools would.

Elementary enrollment ranged from about 380 to 700 students in each of the four schools for kindergarten-grade 4 and totaled 1,663.

"A mega elementary is not pleasing to most parents," said Meryl Thomas, the longtime president of the PTA Council. "You have not opened up [the planning process] to the public."

Board member Barry Patterson said students in kindergarten-grade 2 will be in a separate wing from students in grades 3 and 4, and that the public will be invited to provide input into design as the process continues.

Meanwhile, the $77,011,626 budget includes $3.1 million in federal stimulus funds and holds the property tax rate at 24.81 mills.

The budget reflects declining revenues and enrollment, said business manager Richard Liberto. Between February and June, enrollment dropped by 116, to 4,774.

Two administrative positions have been eliminated -- public relations/Web design coordinator and director of educational operations. Mr. Liberto said the public relations coordinator will be hired on a consulting basis. Administrators will have a pay freeze.

Board member Margie Krogh said the education operations position will be replaced by the reinstatement of elementary education and secondary education directors. The board decided against reinstating the position of assistant superintendent.

Ten teachers and professional employees were furloughed, but school officials said some could be reinstated because of retirements and other personnel changes.

In other actions, the board approved a $233,250 contract to sell the former library building on Aster Street to S & A Homes Inc., which plans to build 40 housing units for residents age 55 and older.

In a recent interview, Mr. Liberto said that S& A Homes Inc. also is interested in the Shenandoah Elementary building, which was closed last year.

The board also hired Specialized Security Response as its new security provider.