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Elementary department requests modest increase for 2025-26; district-funded virtual academy emphasized
Summary
Elementary department leaders outlined a 2025–26 budget largely driven by salaries, modest increases for the virtual academy and staff development, and continued use of part-time intervention tutors and ensemble compensation.
The North Penn School District elementary department presented its proposed 2025–26 budget during the Special Finance Committee meeting, describing a roughly $75,000 increase from the prior year driven mainly by salary and benefit costs.
The department emphasized personnel as the primary cost driver and highlighted specific allocations for intervention tutors, elementary ensemble stipends, transportation for pre-arranged activities, and the district’s partnership with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit for its K–5 virtual program.
Why it matters: elementary staffing and services fund early learning, registration and programs such as the district’s Elementary Virtual Academy, which the presenters said is a cost-saving alternative to families withdrawing to cyber charter schools.
Details from the presentation - Total change: presenter Dr. McKenna said the elementary budget is about $75,000 higher than the previous year, attributing the increase primarily to salary adjustments and a $20,000 increase for the elementary virtual academy. - Personnel and programs: the budget covers the registrar, the early learning coordinator, administrative support, summer hours for teachers completing kindergarten portfolios, part-time intervention tutors across 13 buildings, ensemble compensation for before/after-school music instruction and certain in-district transportation costs. - Virtual academy and cost comparison: the district partners with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit’s Montgomery Virtual Program (MVP) for K–5 and sixth-grade online options. Dr. McKenna reported estimated per-student costs: roughly $5,800 per year for K–5 MVP, $3,800 for sixth grade, versus roughly $18,000 for a general-education student and $44,000 for a student with an IEP who withdraws to a cyber charter. - Enrollment and registration: the presenter said there are more than 700 kindergarten registrations to date for 2025–26 and that the district’s registration and transfer-of-attendance processes are managed through the elementary office.
Questions and clarifications Board members asked for additional details on the virtual program’s enrollment and outcomes. Dr. McKenna said the district typically averages about 25 K–6 students in the virtual program and collects family feedback in the spring. He noted that the district monitors student progress and provides supports to families participating in MVP.
Ending No vote occurred on the elementary budget at the meeting; the presentation is part of the district’s broader 2025–26 budget process.
