[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6620845,"mediaKeyId","2804500-c6b0533d8b35ea3d642333b86ea1e812","parentId",2804500,"title","Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center highlights equipment grants, enrollment and staffing needs in 2025–26 budget preview","audioSeconds",652,"startMs",218000,"endMs",870000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804500-c6b0533d8b35ea3d642333b86ea1e812&start=218&end=870","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804500-c6b0533d8b35ea3d642333b86ea1e812/thumbnail_218000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620845/Pennsylvania/Western-Montgomery-Career-Technology-Center-highlights-equipment-grants-enrollment-and-staffing-needs-in-202526-budget-preview","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620845-ba8d991bf68676df88249c31d3c74d82/orig.mp4?Expires=1773640415&Signature=TChzfQp9V01MlQF4TV-fnrD72pr0Sthc4ZHrgqKpOf6wIqTMH2a4HtANfF~UxIgMyIG4~FSxwl-bR~iNRhTAooqg6GutHlJDqEERCAgq44RSXwel5HnZGWZ44ib2NW1nby3grQomFnMJLgFMVsvt1wmGPB2qkrYd79dQD69zH0pOZhD1N75BV6vRmJ6zQ2jWb7PXLes~xWXZUlSna2upntVgY2HNx27OqkSMaNA4iX~H-lzMENS0o6JhhZlEQqYhKy1JkkjnQ1dYFBra63BkkwYkyMad0oPhtf8yN4Gra~bx6N7R-BWLoO-aKRBpeOjUsWXUW0k4-ETqWJtyz3rtnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pottsgrove School District","date","2025-03-28T01:41:21.427Z","article","David Levingood, administrative director of the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center, presented highlights of the center’s 2025–26 budget and program updates at the Pottsgrove board meeting on March 25.

Levingood said the center’s overall enrollment is holding steady at about 700 students and described active student placements and partnerships: 40 students on co‑op placements, 11 shadowing experiences, an early‑childhood education student in dual enrollment with Shippensburg University, and 54 students headed to the HOSA competition in Lancaster. For Pottsgrove specifically, Levingood said the center received 98 applications from Pottsgrove students (about 74 from eighth-graders).

He outlined program successes: the welding program is now an American Welding certification site; the automotive and diesel programs are a Northeast Training Center for Hunter Engineering, with more than $500,000 in equipment installed; and electrical students installed LED flat‑panel lighting purchased through a PECO grant at minimal cost to the center. Levingood said the cosmetology program was the most popular among Pottsgrove applicants, followed by introductory medical careers and welding.

On budget items, Levingood said the center’s budget allocation to districts will change modestly for 2025–26. For Pottsgrove, he identified a $31,773 increase, a 1.95% change from last year’s share. The center is asking districts to support an assistant principal position to strengthen instructional leadership and teacher support; Levingood said the position has been requested for two to three years and is included in the draft budget. He also described a proposed market‑value adjustment for some administrative salaries using a regional compensation study across neighboring career and technical centers.

Levingood identified grant awards and fundraising that will fund equipment and safety upgrades: an $85,000 competitive equipment grant to buy a robotic welder, earlier automotive upgrades funded by a roughly $50,000 grant, and a recent $450,000 award earmarked for access control and other safety improvements. He also said proceeds from a center auction are being used to buy a replacement school van; existing vans date to model years 2002–2010.

Levingood closed by reviewing the five‑year enrollment and budget history and by noting cost pressures in supplies and equipment. Board members at the meeting thanked him and encouraged community members to visit the center or read materials online.

Speakers at the presentation emphasized that the budget and program items remain subject to district review; the Western Center’s final allocations will be incorporated into each sending district’s budget process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pottsgrove School Board Meeting March 25th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center told the Pottsgrove board it expects steady enrollment, new grants and certifications, and has budgeted for an assistant principal and market-value adjustments; Pottsgrove’s share of center costs was described as a modest increase.","taxTitle","Pottsgrove SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",65793,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620851,"Pottsgrove board sees $4 million shortfall in first 2025–26 budget draft; approves four buses and EdOptions renewal",953,967000,1920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804500-c6b0533d8b35ea3d642333b86ea1e812&start=967&end=1920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804500-c6b0533d8b35ea3d642333b86ea1e812/thumbnail_967000.jpg","/articles/6620851/Pennsylvania/Pottsgrove-board-sees-4-million-shortfall-in-first-202526-budget-draft-approves-four-buses-and-EdOptions-renewal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620851-ec366c8bde6105d0b8dc701392f7f6b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773640415&Signature=WxOMUsxQIjR95r7VyyN3bWR-TAKt8N-Pe0cgh0EAXbZhfH5YCA2-IaEB13GpX1DXK6QjJJfkUy~pqRw4j7fFpBV~bnQTffVfPDNGgJGP60V5EHt6H8CSXwGx35ykLNXraAOkiHfCbPt7YmUrQTSfhCaEqp7CdvjFSMEnovr4B7Rp3wYBaVL8ClE~iD5GR6G~HBX1vI-n2b8xXMXGGGefocqvbD0hTCKECwAdUwZcnTdpZroKnXFJIS~hWML7lZ8W28r4qUORiFyXP74ehIpi59xK7Qki9rN1JVC7eyrgskV2dTOXDitrwi-5lVhU4p6Uig8~ibhmyyDAdVt8mgAEEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pottsgrove School District officials on March 25 presented a first-draft budget for the 2025–26 school year that projects roughly $78.2 million in revenue against about $83.4 million in expenditures, leaving an approximate $4 million shortfall that, as presented, would require a near 9.1% tax increase to balance.

The presentation, given by Ron Linke, a staff member presenting the district budget, set out high-level revenues and expenditures and the timeline for budget decisions. \"If we wanted to balance this budget today, that would require a 9.9% or 9 point almost 9.1% tax increase,\" Linke said during the presentation. He noted the district has adopted an opt-out resolution and cannot legally exceed the state Act 1 index of 5.3 percent when setting a tax increase.

The gap is driven by several factors administrators highlighted: an estimated $640,000 increase in charter school tuition costs based on current enrollments and rising per‑student tuition rates; at least $680,000 higher special-education outplacement and services costs; new staffing requests (including four special-education teaching positions and two instructional assistants, estimated at roughly $610,000); increased planned transfers into the capital reserve tied to a multi‑year facilities plan; and higher costs for transportation vehicles and contracts. Linke said one school bus now costs about $140,000, which has pushed the transportation vehicle line upward.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania law (Act 1) limits how much districts can raise property taxes without voter approval or a special exception. Pottsgrove’s presented budget would therefore require administration and the board to make reductions or identify alternate revenue before a final budget vote.

Board members and administrators outlined next steps. Linke said the administration will refine salary and benefits numbers and revisit discretionary line items; he also reviewed the budget calendar that requires a proposed budget vote to fall within statutorily required notice windows ahead of a final adoption on June 10. Dr. Charles Nipper, who summarized the presentation for the board, reiterated the legal constraint: \"The max we can approve by law is 5.3%\" and urged public engagement as the budget is refined.

The board approved a set of routine and business actions during the meeting. Those votes passed by voice vote or roll call as recorded in the meeting minutes; the record does not include named vote tallies.

Votes at a glance
- Receiving of accounts for audit (agenda item 6.1): motion approved by the board (voice vote).
- Treasurer’s report (agenda item 7.1): motion approved by the board (voice vote).
- Personnel actions including administrative and professional staff appointments and resignations (agenda items 8.1–8.8): motions approved (individual items bundled and approved by motion).
- Purchase of four 72-passenger school buses (agenda item 9.1): motion approved. Administration said the purchase addresses an immediate need after discussion in the finance committee and prior review that identified an inoperative vehicle and increasing fleet costs.
- Renewal agreement for EdOptions Academy (agenda item 10.1): motion approved.

What was not decided: The board did not adopt a final 2025–26 budget. Administrators said they will present more detailed budget breakdowns, including facilities and operations, curriculum and pupil services, at committee meetings in April and May; the administration flagged a potential proposed budget vote window on April 22 (required to meet public-notice deadlines) and a final adoption vote targeted for June 10.

Clarifying details from the presentation and discussion include the following: charter tuition rates used in the projection were described during the meeting as roughly $15,000 per regular-education charter student and substantially higher for special-education placements (examples discussed ranged into the mid‑$30,000s to mid‑$40,000s for cyber and brick‑and‑mortar special‑education placements); one bus price cited was $140,000; the district’s proposed revenues number was presented as about $78.2 million; the expenditure total presented was about $83.4 million leading to the deficit noted above. Several line items remain subject to refinement, including salary and benefits and the planned capital reserve transfer.

Meeting context: The budget presentation occupied substantial time in the board’s March meeting; board members encouraged residents to attend upcoming facilities and operations committee meetings to provide input and to track state budget developments that affect school funding.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article spoke during the Pottsgrove School District board meeting on March 25, 2025.","At a March 25 Pottsgrove School District board meeting, administrators presented a first-draft 2025–26 budget showing a roughly $4 million deficit that would require a tax increase beyond the state Act 1 index; the board approved four 72-passenger buses and renewed an EdOptions Academy agreement.","actionData","errors"]

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Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center highlights equipment grants, enrollment and staffing needs in 2025–26 budget preview

Pottsgrove board sees $4 million shortfall in first 2025–26 budget draft; approves four buses and EdOptions renewal