[{"_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",6538811,"mediaKeyId","3798170-a1cfb7a561293df4725cdc3be1f8152c","parentId",3798170,"title","Pottsgrove board approves 2025–26 budget, tax levies and multiple personnel and contract items","audioSeconds",311,"startMs",3425000,"endMs",3736000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798170-a1cfb7a561293df4725cdc3be1f8152c&start=3425&end=3736","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798170-a1cfb7a561293df4725cdc3be1f8152c/thumbnail_3425000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6538811/Pennsylvania/Pottsgrove-board-approves-202526-budget-tax-levies-and-multiple-personnel-and-contract-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538811-8ed632189b997a298be18db50dde2881/orig.mp4?Expires=1775116953&Signature=oLvUptTPbeeF1xteJB6psu~Ykc-wbJgGm0JbuWxs-ayCjEfsBwzd-F~NzgjZ48HnzoAsekNVDJYrzwnbeX4M0RbHV21WA~S8IO1ZIWNuxb4TgU3W8qhFSOYkpZtPd8mn1Z9ot4~4A2gAH1112yOLsFRjOpFA2Ksj0oz-v2nBX9s7mmGOCXP5enujuGWvxm9UMKKfHW0zZdzt88MZJ6Fqw6fZYkmsqRRab3HoER6EvUsRP~fNgPmf8-ABFEFFf~fHWSfHyCjD4zaZV9oTf20YxVBYvbcgEq-2QIycKQLYjRLqfgagzjVAUq6J4X98upUvFzVcSdqQxN10UkC~9R47Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pottsgrove School District","date","2025-06-11T13:29:30Z","article","The Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors on Monday approved the district’s 2025–26 general fund budget and several related tax measures, confirmed multiple personnel appointments, and approved or rejected several capital and program contracts.

Budget and taxes
The board voted to adopt the district’s 2025–26 general fund budget and then approved the real-estate tax levy needed to fund it. The board also approved the set of Act 511 taxes (earned income tax, per capita tax, real estate transfer tax and mercantile tax) and adopted the homestead/farmstead exclusion for 2025–26. Board members said administration delivered the budget within the 2.5–3.0% guidance the board requested; administration presented a 2.6% real-estate tax increase to fund the proposed budget.

Personnel and staffing
The board approved a series of personnel items, including: the appointment of Stephanie Myers as principal of Ringing Rocks Elementary School effective July 14; several professional-staff hires (agenda items 9.2–9.6); job descriptions under Act 93; support-staff assignment changes and summer hires; and extended-school-year and summer-program staff appointments. The board also approved the Keystone Plan (employee compensation and benefits consolidation) and summer hiring authority while the board is not in session.

Contracts, bids and equipment
The board rejected the low bid for the district tennis-court refurbishment and authorized a future rebid. The board approved a paving contract with Saxon Sons for Lower Elementary and Bridal (sic) School paving at a cost of $597,705.84. The district accepted a Montgomery County Intermediate Unit cooperative bid award for art, general and paper and medical supplies. The board approved the purchase of janitorial management software and accepted a no-cost donation of a used baby-grand piano for the high school from Saint Aloysius.

Education programs and services
Under education action items, the board approved a contract with the Lincoln Center to provide a drug-and-alcohol counselor at Pottsgrove High School (a new position), extended-school-year contracts with New Story, the school for the deaf, and Vanguard, the 2025–26 contract with Cottage 7, and authorization for a staff member to attend a German‑American teacher-exchange program.

Finance and housekeeping
The board ratified payment of May 2025 invoices totaling $2,450,943.85 and approved year-end budget-transfer authority for administration to make required adjustments and present transfer details at the completion of the audit. The board also designated depositories and named tax collectors for the 2025–26 school year.

Reports and other items
Superintendent Dr. David Finnerty reported that the district celebrated a Pre-K Counts graduation and plans to move the Pre-K Counts program to Lower Pottsgrove Elementary for the 2025–26 school year. The superintendent also read a letter from Lower Pottsgrove Township thanking the board for passing a tax rebate for volunteer firefighters. The board named Jordan Longacre as the student representative for the upcoming school year.

Votes at a glance (selected)
- Adopt 2025–26 general fund budget — Approved (voice vote).
- Approve 2025–26 real-estate tax levy (2.6% increase presented) — Approved (voice vote).
- Approve Act 511 taxes (earned income, per capita, transfer, mercantile) — Approved (voice vote).
- Adopt Homestead/Farmstead exclusion for 2025–26 — Approved (voice vote).
- Ratify payment of May 2025 invoices — Approved; amount $2,450,943.85.
- Appoint Stephanie Myers, principal, Ringing Rocks Elementary (start July 14) — Approved.
- Approve Act 93 job descriptions (six job descriptions) — Approved.
- Reject tennis court bid; rebid recommended — Approved (rejection).
- Approve paving contract with Saxon Sons — Approved; $597,705.84.
- Accept donation of a baby-grand piano from Saint Aloysius — Approved.
- Approve purchase of janitorial management software — Approved.
- Approve contract with the Lincoln Center for drug-and-alcohol counselor at high school — Approved.

Board members who spoke commended staff for preparing the budget and noted the district’s efforts to balance local affordability with program needs. Most motions passed by unanimous voice vote; where the board asked procedural clarifications (for example about bid re-submission and oath administration for appointees), staff and the board solicitor provided explanations.

The board adjourned after public comment and committee reports. Several board members welcomed new appointee Stacy Herbert and outgoing candidates were encouraged to remain engaged in district committees and volunteer opportunities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pottsgrove School Board Meeting, June 10th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Pottsgrove School District board adopted the 2025–26 general fund budget, approved related tax levies and a slate of personnel appointments and contract awards, and rejected a tennis court bid; the board also accepted a donated piano and approved a contract for a new drug-and-alcohol counselor.","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},6538816,"Pottsgrove board appoints Stacy Herbert to fill vacant seat after public interviews",4273,166000,4439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798170-a1cfb7a561293df4725cdc3be1f8152c&start=166&end=4439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798170-a1cfb7a561293df4725cdc3be1f8152c/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6538816/Pennsylvania/Pottsgrove-board-appoints-Stacy-Herbert-to-fill-vacant-seat-after-public-interviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538816-5c5219d3ef22d2dcb223dca7f2048595/orig.mp4?Expires=1775116953&Signature=LTX6fVj404FC~voRxtIh-w9s0T-JIGMDqzENhbanDQNji1-ljQ9T7dUOQE1blnEKojlv~SmKbjPGgRtxlOoRlIYH24t0D8npPUzBn~kjM7U9RfKF0Erlm~P0KXQ8hZwFJzQAg3dayKIqLxETF7cbTp4SHr1KtUlh9cpR1C7U8JKQdP9bbTCFlfO1HNanTI72q0mjQmKbWnSZ7lz5x9Jgkhha26iKEDyj9lCMJcnF5Yf3NXL7gJVRPc13m529x0shHUdSHMoTT9kCIIuEEqXBqyYL7f-f46xYyepbcyb7tPQVaC981RhqjWV9EPfbUmMV1C~L4VZUdpN19B2V2e0N6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors on Monday appointed Stacy Herbert to fill a vacant board seat that runs through November 2025 after publicly interviewing six candidates.

Board members held public interviews with six applicants, asking three prepared questions of each candidate and allowing follow-up questions. The board used a straw-poll process to narrow the field to two finalists, then held a second tally using a two-vote-per-member method. That tally produced 16 total votes; Herbert received the most and the board moved to appoint her. A motion to appoint Herbert was made and approved by the board.

The interviews were conducted on the record. Several candidates described local involvement and priorities: Casey Fanolio, director of community engagement at a local hospital, emphasized behavioral health supports and workforce development; Fanolio told the board she wants to “remove those barriers” that keep students from accessing opportunities. Stacy Herbert told the board she has served in PTA leadership and local volunteer roles and said she wants to “advocate for the students, the parents and the teachers.”

Board members debated giving new appointees experience versus selecting a candidate already on the ballot. One board member said the hospital and behavioral-health experience Fanolio described aligned with district conversations about mental-health supports; another member said Herbert’s steady local involvement and presence at committee meetings argued for continuity. Two board members volunteered to speak on behalf of each finalist during a tied stage of the process.

The board then used a formal confirmation motion; the motion to appoint Herbert passed. The board’s solicitor noted that under state law the oath of office administered outside the annual organizational meeting must be given by a notary public. Because a notary was not present at the meeting, Herbert was asked to take the oath of office before a notary the next day; she will not be eligible to vote until she is sworn.

Board members thanked all six candidates for participating, encouraged unsuccessful finalists to remain engaged, and welcomed Herbert to the board pending completion of the notary-administered oath. The seat is scheduled to be decided by voters in the November 2025 municipal election and then filled by the successful candidate in December, per the district’s regular election cycle.

The board’s recorded discussion and the straw-poll counts show the process the board used to reach its decision; the board did not adopt additional policy language or other binding action beyond the appointment at the meeting.

Herbert is expected to take the oath before a notary and then assume full duties, including voting, once that administrative requirement is satisfied.","After public interviews with six candidates, the Pottsgrove School District board narrowed the field by straw poll and voted to appoint Stacy Herbert to a seat running through November 2025; the appointee must take the oath before a notary to be eligible to vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Pottsgrove board approves 2025–26 budget, tax levies and multiple personnel and contract items

Pottsgrove board appoints Stacy Herbert to fill vacant seat after public interviews