[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6277757,"mediaKeyId","2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a","parentId",2646879,"title","Dallastown Area SD projects $4.7 million 2024–25 surplus; board cautioned about governor’s proposed funds","audioSeconds",792,"startMs",1568000,"endMs",2360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a&start=1568&end=2360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a/thumbnail_1568000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277757/Pennsylvania/Dallastown-Area-SD-projects-47-million-202425-surplus-board-cautioned-about-governors-proposed-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277757-466ba318e064bbf882b26a6a2c2352bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900676&Signature=mp26gI8qzq3LIxg7AxkjbaY0xCgzmiZcCmvTIya35GOFgzdRQWxh-H2NbBB-s3mufmQKd1k0QtiPeGcFyUZRFl6RnS~nxD35hLpUiDmq~kIFg39zI0kx~YAkqifxtU5MgJMTcl0EJxOA7JPKUyc1UO-FlF-~5zurH-eToyA9JiTj1tRvyLQ0JAILPrY7arVwbtxFrglGp1ePJ24MK3UF6KX2f4~nRXoGUggLH3nH~FiRcMci-doEoRIqmHiPHtmoexO1uqUMCYB0-ffVEmTOgrQmgIa1Nl~D3DaELU4wL6C3eZ6f0TmsrZ3VTbAHY2o62Cf6DLkaXxULHyXVcXF5Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-14T13:31:27Z","article","District finance staff presented the 2024–25 budget status to the board on March 13, saying current projections show roughly $134,000,000 in expenses and $139,000,000 in revenue, yielding an estimated year-end surplus of about $4,700,000.

Mr. Levin, who presented the figures, identified several drivers of the projected surplus: the district’s receipt of incremental state allocations (an additional $1,400,000 for basic education and $400,000 for special education was noted as newly provided funds during the year), a Ready-to-Learn block grant increase of about $1,900,000, a capital reserve transfer of $2,000,000 approved in January, higher-than-expected interest earnings (he cited an additional $1,000,000 projection) and stronger than-expected collections of delinquent real-estate taxes.

Levin also called out expense-side savings: health-care costs were tracking about $800,000 under budget (with three months of claims remaining) and salary/benefits savings from open positions and turnover. He described the administration’s recommendation to transfer additional dollars to capital reserves in June 2025 (including a roughly $3.5 million transfer to front-load capital reserves) and noted $600,000 of the capital transfer was already baked into the current budget.

Board members and administration cautioned that the governor’s proposed 2025–26 budget — which the district staff estimated would total approximately $2,600,000 in new dollars for the district if fully enacted — is not guaranteed. Dr. Dahl and Mr. Levin warned that only a fraction of the governor’s proposal typically becomes enacted and that guaranteed recurring (“hold harmless”) funds represent a much smaller, more certain portion of that proposal. Levin said the district would be guaranteed only about $400,000 in recurring funds under current assumptions. Board members urged continued caution when using one-time or nonrecurring state money to fund recurring personnel costs.

Timeline: Administration will present a formal proposed 2025–26 budget next week to give the board time for review, with the district’s proposed budget slated for the first board meeting in May for PDE filing and a final adoption planned for June 12, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/13/25 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Dallastown Area School District finance staff told the board on March 13 that 2024–25 year-end projections showed about a $4.7 million surplus driven by state grant increases, capital-reserve transfers and higher interest and tax collections.","taxTitle","Dallastown Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",67507,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6277762,"Dallastown Area SD board weighs staffing proposal, signals support for multiple positions and advances behavior intervention specialist",5604,2676000,8280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a&start=2676&end=8280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a/thumbnail_2676000.jpg","/articles/6277762/Pennsylvania/Dallastown-Area-SD-board-weighs-staffing-proposal-signals-support-for-multiple-positions-and-advances-behavior-intervention-specialist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277762-621e21eaea6f6f1f001cdecbb1a88a23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900676&Signature=jZ2mklatYv51NRqwmbiUu9KF7FZ9JjQ9RUJuRE9brNJ-2YvdGk4mcB-mHPpOiA5WUTwE-2gxBSjUKohM~xeWp7qGt8DtHDlNb7C9gmssTengceoMv4ekwa3VA2Axo8Mo9k5S2M0zgklKtec9Vtkgq16aLBZDsw75UV5uYDc-Br-SYzAMMkYF7lUy3JXK8DzN0ax4J9dysXrC4VpVImxBvB7aMU0GHaCayBHNs-gYx6RjKCpiMpyxRJGPUPXR37nzUUufbbnwZGKu8~0mUJ5RtwwM6j45E8ddp1iE446jsfbuNCFCjXTogHk5RIVXSd3i5bzZcNzCMFoCIzIdex2BJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members spent the bulk of their March 13 meeting reviewing administration staffing recommendations for the 2025–26 budget and giving guidance on which positions to prioritize. The administration presented a Phase 1 package that it said was budgeted at $671,536; after the board’s guidance the administration reported a new tally of $674,627 that it would try to accommodate.

The board approved its meeting agenda at the outset and passed consent items unanimously.

Positions the board indicated support for (by show of hands or roll-call guidance during the meeting) included:
- a full-time assistant principal for a K–3 building (the board reported eight members in support),
- an assistant athletic director for the high school (majority support after discussion of program size and staff workload),
- two part-time paraprofessional positions at the intermediate school,
- a high-school academic intervention (AIS) teacher, and
- continuation/memorializing of a third school resource officer (SRO) position for the district (several board members voiced support while one expressed a preference for exploring contracted armed security as a lower-cost alternative for the intermediate school).

Board members debated and split on several items. On the proposed permanent security-support monitor for a secondary campus doorway, some board members said morning coverage already existed and preferred reallocating funds to classroom supports; others said they were concerned the main student entrance lacked continuous coverage and urged administration to ensure the door would be monitored either by staff reassignment or an approved new hire.

Several members argued that classroom-facing positions — special-education teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior supports — should be prioritized over administrative or noninstructional hires. That concern echoed public comments earlier in the meeting from parents and community members.

Behavior intervention position advanced into Phase 1: During deliberations the board identified about $153,000 freed by positions that did not win support earlier in the review and — after discussion of priorities and district needs — directed administration to advance a K–3 behavior intervention classroom/specialist into the hiring plan. The board discussed a projected cost for that position at about $158,000 and asked administration to rework remaining Phase 2 and special-education items and return with options.

Process and next steps: Board president Nicholas Pantano instructed administration to return with a balanced budget proposal and to explore whether the remaining Phase 2 items could be accommodated by reallocation in the draft budget rather than exceeding the budgeted total. Administration said it would present the formal 2025–26 administrative budget next week for board review, with the proposed budget scheduled for a first board approval (PDE filing) in early May and a final adoption on June 12.

No final formal vote to amend the district’s adopted budget occurred at the March 13 meeting; the board provided direction and counts of support for individual positions, and administration said it would attempt to accommodate the will of the board when preparing the budget documents for future meetings.","The Dallastown Area School Board spent most of its March 13 meeting reviewing the administration’s 2025–26 staffing recommendations and provided direction on which positions to prioritize, including advancing a K–3 behavior intervention specialist into the hiring plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6277765,"Parents, providers press Dallastown Area SD board to boost special-education staffing and training",201,113000,314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a&start=113&end=314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6277765/Pennsylvania/Parents-providers-press-Dallastown-Area-SD-board-to-boost-special-education-staffing-and-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277765-dbca4826f5cb22c9bfe62c59c1a554c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900676&Signature=V34-6llYrfEk6Dfdb8uDWdqapW9Sedv6a7amuCjKKeDrOEh9CP3yg5wmSJ13kxoq0APe6BOZaiDB9E~0moV9kSB0FUWUshaSBmhUfmgbQI5YvQUG~zsulDKCBQUBrjrQ8nBwFQibF-0XsN6a16o0gvtS~y~dWLNay5sjeGJilXEtaNPiUU5UdEUF3RUI3TKUiPqVhC0Kt05GTwCwX2IBckkHjqBZBkqNZRmXOUycHmkyPG4iiHOF5QA4bmipJWjOstAt27WXSZStvOfPrvu4RWRyFWi19VDMQDLYpEnp7S0whzXqxVkxFrf8e073h3z0AxAiq0yuhfOO2cYHuc~kgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elizabeth Jones, a parent and local business owner, told the Dallastown Area School Board on March 13 that her son — a student with autism — has experienced repeated safety incidents and that district responses focused on changing the child rather than addressing peers or supervision gaps. \"Children with autism are particularly vulnerable in the school setting due to the invisible nature of their disability,\" Jones said, citing incidents in classrooms, hallways and locker rooms.

James Jones, who identified himself as Liz Jones’s husband, said families face inconsistent communication from the special-education office and that several parents he has contacted were unaware of staff departures. \"Many families are unaware of key changes such as Jill Trimmer’s departure from the district. Emails often go unanswered and parents are left in the dark about their child's progress and available resources,\" he said.

Randy Frem, who said he is a business owner supporting students with special needs and a parent, echoed the Joneses’ concerns and urged the board to \"prioritize the hiring and retaining of well trained special education professionals who can provide and support these students.\" He said he hears recurring themes from families: safety concerns, lack of neurodiversity-affirming practices and insufficient responsiveness to parents’ advocacy.

Heather Lair, president of the Dallastown Area Education Association (DAEA), framed staffing concerns as part of the board’s larger staffing proposal discussion. She told the board that the staffing recommendation increases administrative roles while not prioritizing classroom-facing positions. \"Teachers are being asked to do more with less,\" Lair said, and she urged that paraprofessionals, intervention staff and counselors be given higher priority.

Speakers called for several specific changes: expanding supervision during unstructured times, training for staff on neurodiversity-affirming practices, clearer family communication when key special-education staff depart, and prioritizing hiring of qualified special-education personnel and paraprofessionals. Board president Nicholas Pantano acknowledged the remarks during the public-comment period and later referenced special-education staffing during deliberations on the administration’s staffing recommendation.

The comments came at the start of the board’s meeting, during the public-comment window. No formal action was taken during public comment; board members discussed related staffing requests later in the meeting.","Four speakers at the March 13 public comment period told the Dallastown Area School Board that special-education students face safety and inclusion gaps and urged the district to prioritize hiring qualified special-education staff, improve communication with families and provide staff training.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6277751,"Leader Heights move set; district updates elevator, systems and York Township planning",617,4923000,5540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a&start=4923&end=5540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2646879-a21d62fe9a4de943885968fa2328eb7a/thumbnail_4923000.jpg","/articles/6277751/Pennsylvania/Leader-Heights-move-set-district-updates-elevator-systems-and-York-Township-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277751-85d20014bb8714b9650e69774d1fb0b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900676&Signature=VtwEHtCpsHxIxoJXhzY3DM1W7Rt969ma8Bbw8TeZ74BJP743sBW1VNlEq7vR3J6cRTGrahpaHHYJnJQTslrT2bqdMJr3vc9qVD~mAEOEtB7hpAw4f73cyQICdSaoCH1yoVenlANEHTnNvT-HVV7XD0OdTPpzMGbPCCGLiqmmERCGEoh9aoPU1v89lZIVm0lY7izffp8tPtRI0OfMzGUe1Guo2ROXl3rfvc~qpuXCGFHHr46DAaO4MZoCpT3GcJfbbcdbusgrCArBVcXM6~eneuvjBzW6WEquhjW9B0wU3rds8zdJmD1DjmYUv21ngGTjNDrZvXO4FXwn3DMzV8BYXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff told the March 13 board meeting that Leader Heights’ new section is in the final stretch and that leadership plans to move students into the new space in early April if inspections and system startups finish on schedule.

Construction and operations staff described two critical items for occupancy: elevator installation and inspection (targeted completion around March 28 in the contractors’ schedule) and configuration and testing of building systems including fire alarm, access control and public-address systems. Facilities staff said the schedule was tight but that contractors committed to completing required testing and inspections in time for the district’s planned move and student orientation.

The district plans a staged move: packing and furniture delivery began in mid-March, with a short multi-day transfer window intended to allow teachers time to set up classrooms before students arrive. Facilities staff said furniture would begin arriving the week of March 17, paving and playground installations were underway, and volunteers and community groups were providing support for the transition.

Bond-fund and project updates: The district reported February bond-fund spending of roughly $270,000 and roughly $75,000 in interest. Change orders for the Leader Heights project now total about $227,000 for the life of the project; facilities staff said the amounts are reflected in the construction contingency line.

York Township planning and pre-purchase: Administration briefed the board on an option to perform front-driveway and pavement work for York Township over the coming summer to improve construction phasing. Staff said final quotes were being obtained and would be presented in future meetings. The administration also warned that a major electrical switch critical to the York Township project should be pre-purchased to avoid long lead times; the district estimated a ballpark cost in the range of prior purchases (roughly $76,000) and said it would present a purchase recommendation on March 20.

Board members and staff agreed to keep the community informed about moving dates and to host tours once the building is safely occupied and systems are fully commissioned.","Administrators told the Dallastown Area School Board that Leader Heights’ new section will be ready for student occupancy in early April if inspections and system startups complete on schedule. The district also outlined preparatory work for the York Township project and said it will seek authority to pre-purchase a major electrical switch.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dallastown Area SD projects $4.7 million 2024–25 surplus; board cautioned about governor’s proposed funds

Dallastown Area SD board weighs staffing proposal, signals support for multiple positions and advances behavior intervention specialist

Parents, providers press Dallastown Area SD board to boost special-education staffing and training

Leader Heights move set; district updates elevator, systems and York Township planning