The Jersey Shore Area School District Board of School Directors heard a detailed update Oct. 13 from Superintendent Dr. Ulmer that the district is operating without incoming state funds and — as of Oct. 1 — is also not receiving federal funds, forcing locally funded continuation of programs and close month-by-month cash management.

The superintendent told the board that the business office is “tracking cash flow month by month” and that district administrators are postponing some budgeted purchases. “You are in a situation where… it is costing the district money to not have a state budget because you are not seeing the benefit of investing your cash on hand,” Ulmer said. She also said district staff had received guidance on purchases and that the district would present a formal budget conversation at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Without state and federal aid, services normally supported by those revenue streams are currently being paid for with local dollars. Ulmer said the district is continuing federally funded programs so students keep receiving services, but that local finances are being stretched. She gave the example of four reading specialists whose salaries are normally covered by federal Title funds: “Right now, we are paying their salary with local funds so those children receive services because the federal funds are not flowing.”

Board and staff have taken immediate operational steps. Ulmer said the business office is maintaining a detailed cash-flow tracking sheet, administration has reviewed and deferred nonessential purchases in recent administrative meetings, and employees have been notified about heightened scrutiny of purchasing. She encouraged staff and the community to advocate with elected officials for resolution of the state budget impasse.

A board member asked whether the district knew the cause of the state budget delay; the answer from the board was that little clear information was available from Harrisburg. One speaker in the meeting attributed the hold-up to several policy and spending disputes — including overall spending levels, welfare and transit funding, marijuana legalization and gaming-tax proposals — citing analysis from the Independent Fiscal Office; that attribution was made during board discussion but not presented as district policy.

The board also received a routine policy and personnel update. Ulmer noted an updated draft of policy 209.2 (diabetes management) that incorporates legal edits from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and operational edits from district nurses; the policy will return for future action. The district also has two job descriptions on the agenda for future approval, converting high school production and drama coach positions into middle-school versions.

Votes at a glance (voice votes unless otherwise noted): the board approved grouped motions on several consent categories. Personnel items A–K: approved. Curriculum and instruction item A: approved. Buildings and grounds item A: approved. Finance items A–I: approved. Miscellaneous items A–G: approved. Each grouped motion passed by voice vote during the meeting.

Other business and public comment: The board paused for a moment of silence and members shared remarks honoring the late Lieutenant Colonel Merle Switzer, a former Region 1 school director. A public commenter, Bob Pryor of Mifflin Township, urged emphasis on “work ethics” in the community and said businesses are having staffing problems; his remarks were delivered during the courtesy-of-the-floor public-comment period.

What’s next: Ulmer told the board she intends to present a formal budget-status briefing at the next meeting laying out cash projections and options while the district operates without state and federal disbursements.