[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6220166,"mediaKeyId","3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be","parentId",3618301,"title","Board accepts expulsion waiver for student charged with controlled-substance policy violation","audioSeconds",106,"startMs",6692000,"endMs",6798000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be&start=6692&end=6798","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be/thumbnail_6692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220166/Pennsylvania/Board-accepts-expulsion-waiver-for-student-charged-with-controlled-substance-policy-violation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220166-3dd26fa3b281bdd84cfbff1e273a0f70/orig.mp4?Expires=1775286686&Signature=gml-l~sDKwqYbyG5hB98R-iVcqQPIFdhG6aSznKDBL1lt9ExovM2WrG~htHE2isg5z~IbUOE8-pTdavikHHnoO9MHt85-zwHFS6WVLSJtca21oUg9bC~md6~lNL67-VjKWpmME6qN-ADLxQ0nXuOoG0cav9j8eb09KPl3u8LpiTHRZnwOwqs835E5p2D1dN-qpnHQjzP~EP1dr6UoTpmMu2TRJzhsg~F8~T8D0sftxGf5A6BDnNp2YcM17bIrETuRANduF0OUm19bN3B~l7MsA~2gxueOh857BRIHPFjgXtP83GIczd4N08AFiYzdvXn0TQ~YaCOrGU44sGz2fNIjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elizabethtown Area School District","date","2025-05-30T13:13:39Z","article","The Elizabethtown Area School District Board on May 27 accepted an expulsion waiver for student number 2024255, who was charged with a violation of Policy 227 (controlled substances). The student's parent and the student waived the right to a school-board hearing and accepted the administration's recommendation for expulsion for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year and the full 2025–26 school year.

Board Secretary Maxwell read the waiver into the record as part of the meeting's consent items. The board moved and seconded a motion to accept the waiver and approved it by roll-call vote. The motion passed with all voting members present voting yes.

Because the action involves a named student and a disciplinary matter, the board limited public discussion and did not discuss the underlying investigative details in open session. The administration noted that necessary paperwork had been provided and the waiver completed by the student's family.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 27, 2025 - Board Action Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board accepted a waiver of a school-board hearing and approved administration's recommendation to expel a student charged under Policy 227 for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year and the 2025–26 school year.","taxTitle","Elizabethtown Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38781,"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},6220170,"Elizabethtown board advances revised student-search policy to first reading, adds parental notice and law-enforcement coordination for high-risk searches",243,6145000,6388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be&start=6145&end=6388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be/thumbnail_6145000.jpg","/articles/6220170/Pennsylvania/Elizabethtown-board-advances-revised-student-search-policy-to-first-reading-adds-parental-notice-and-law-enforcement-coordination-for-high-risk-searches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220170-9b9a210e0234207e64c5d4f834d6c643/orig.mp4?Expires=1775286686&Signature=LQXePbM3ofiHWjTXMT4pKv4Y2x-oF6HW3pa6gRbKiGqeyo-1Ng1HVaKAlHJW6Vz3-z02rKn6HA8oWl6Jfdl-g~26asIMqWcsrbKRtCUayPjdJqmhLlMNauBO27e3rogJjABVofNKe9icimrraJScbakMhLY8rsoCf2-JeuLhy21do2PNrpKVqNwD1SmQOV9JUygVeOzEx7Z2cNP4dyiOQAl5vUsOtI9XoRfuAWb8dg08YSWVPy-Ctu2CdpbYBP-JhqcY0WVG2NwVvoSfMfW6mqOYxdv9D8iS1k~JxaE6rPrLeNAXmtrRhO~5iSAgVMWNGGgDgbEo5C4tO4IYtYeQtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elizabethtown Area School District Board on May 27 approved first reading of revisions to Policy 226, the district policy on searches, adding specific language about parental notification and coordination with law enforcement in high-risk situations.

Board member Jonathan Gillis presented the amended wording during the meeting, saying the administration and board had worked to craft language that balances student privacy with safety. The new text states that the district will make every effort to notify a student's parent or guardian before conducting a search that involves removal of clothing or an examination beneath clothing, \"unless doing so would compromise the safety of the school building or the population.\" It also instructs the district to coordinate with law enforcement when reasonable suspicion involves items concealed in undergarments or when items sought \"present a heightened level of danger to the school population compared to other types of contraband.\" Gillis moved the policy to second reading and the board approved the first reading by unanimous vote.

Supporters of the change said the added wording addresses community concerns about notification and oversight; the board's policy committee described the wording as a compromise that preserves student safety while providing additional parental notification when feasible. The administration said it had received no objections to the revised language during the comment period and recommended advancing the policy.

The first-reading approval means the policy will return to the board for a second reading and formal adoption at a future meeting if no further changes are made.","The board approved first reading of revisions to Policy 226 (searches), adding language to require parental notification unless safety is compromised and to coordinate with law enforcement for searches involving removal of clothing or heightened danger.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6220175,"Elizabethtown Area School District approves 2025–26 budget with 2.5% tax increase, will draw on reserves",4359,1372000,5731000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be&start=1372&end=5731","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618301-e10c4555d802758e32b7aa29a7f874be/thumbnail_1372000.jpg","/articles/6220175/Pennsylvania/Elizabethtown-Area-School-District-approves-202526-budget-with-25-tax-increase-will-draw-on-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220175-768c318dd9a25440dd5ac3f4b43ca290/orig.mp4?Expires=1775286686&Signature=C1UTArnoZM6Tx-1qljWl9ff8SBa1YwToRmrNQSVdcXKNFWQuIF7oapCei4Yn5176UHu6briBzzaa2UKjMdZSdblZN5NYFDKykpilBFQ9gRnDOIQNNmDKAv4Dk9WxRCl1Y13aIc8iCxbutq2N5McGcP9-bp2WcxKhujN0HvEPU7ox29-6kaJ2vNAy4vekhQxyDr3D6GfjXvupXqhrr6E0hV6Tf8Y4pm4s1eTL3VVYEEmINZFCoIWh~0beGUnoK5ixZomwD-6AZBf3ojzC2A3g-vNB8w1115pWWwUKPXu3D-VugCGsEiYmoQXaWTMduR1A8Vf5l3X~LusYyWR6xX8yGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elizabethtown Area School District Board on May 27 approved the district's final 2025–26 budget with a 2.5% tax increase and a plan to draw on the district's fund balance to cover an anticipated shortfall of $1,483,365.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and a contentious proposal to postpone the budget and raise the tax rate to 4.5%, which failed on a 6–2 roll-call vote. Board members then approved the budget as presented; the final roll call on the budget was 6 yes, 2 no (No: Board member Thomas Reed and Board member Matthew Emery; Yes: Board members Jonathan Gillis, Mary Lindemuth, Matthew Riggleman, Amanda Schrum, Karen Wilson, and Board President Steven Lindemuth).

Supporters of a larger tax increase said the district should avoid drawing from savings and fully fund staff and libraries; opponents argued the community cannot absorb a larger levy. “Vote no on this disastrous budget,” public commenter Amy Carr told the board, citing planned cuts to nine positions and a $0 library budget. Alicia Runkel told the board, “This budget is setting us up for long term failure,” saying cuts would deplete supports for students and teachers.

Administrators and board members debated the budget's uncertainties. Chief financial staff noted the district has not finalized a contract with its professional staff and warned that contract outcomes could raise total costs beyond the $1.48 million shortfall. Business official Strickler told the board the administration “does not have a contract with our professional staff, that is not in this budget,” and said that unknowns around bargaining make the fund balance draw a chief concern.

The budget package includes a separate approved transfer to capital reserve: the board directed administration to move $228,693 from the general fund to capital reserve for future building project savings. The board also approved separate roll-call items required by law, including the homestead and farmstead exclusion resolution.

Public commenters repeatedly highlighted specific proposed cuts noted in district documents and presentations: nine unfilled positions (identified in public comments as two social studies teachers, four elementary teachers and one reading specialist), a $0 allocation for K–12 libraries, and use of roughly $1.4 million from reserves to cover the deficit. Community members and the teachers' union president urged the board to reconsider the savings draw and to prioritize classroom staffing and library funding.

Board discussion included procedural concerns about timing: a proposal to postpone and increase the tax rate to 4.5% was amended and put to a vote; proponents argued more time and a higher levy were warranted given facility needs, while administration warned the business office needed time to prepare a budget at any new rate and that statutory timelines constrained revisions.

The board approved several routine items in a grouped consensus vote earlier in the meeting (items 1 and 7–15, 17 and 20) before taking separate roll-call votes on the budget and related financial actions. The district must submit its adopted final budget to the Pennsylvania Department of Education within the required timeline.

The board will move forward with the adopted 2.5% budget while acknowledging the administration's warning that bargaining outcomes or other unbudgeted costs could increase reliance on fund balance.","After hours of public comment and a failed amendment to raise the rate further, the Elizabethtown Area School District board approved a final 2025–26 budget that sets the tax increase at 2.5% and directs use of fund balance to cover a planned shortfall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board accepts expulsion waiver for student charged with controlled-substance policy violation

Elizabethtown board advances revised student-search policy to first reading, adds parental notice and law-enforcement coordination for high-risk searches

Elizabethtown Area School District approves 2025–26 budget with 2.5% tax increase, will draw on reserves