Dr. Kristen Horton, director of people services for the Boyertown Area School District, briefed the board on the district's federal program allocations and said new information on July 20 shows Title II and Title IV funding for the district was not released this year while the Title I allocation exceeded the amount the district budgeted.

Horton said Title I — aimed at improving basic programs — was budgeted at $707,154 and the district received a projected allocation and actual distribution of $763,584. By contrast, Title II (supporting effective instruction) and Title IV-A (well-rounded educational opportunities and technology) were not funded when the state announced allocations; the district had budgeted some funds for both. Horton said the net effect is that the district will have $63,570 less federal entitlement funding than it had planned for this budget year.

The nut graf: Horton said the district can use the Title I funds for permitted Title I purposes and that administrators plan to review the general fund and other line items to cover the roughly $63,570 gap rather than eliminate staff. She and the administration said they expect to manage the shortfall by making small adjustments to the general operating budget.

Board members raised procedural and long-range questions. The superintendent and solicitor reported that Pennsylvania has joined a legal challenge seeking the release of previously allocated federal funds and that last-minute changes on which state office administers some programs have created uncertainty. Solicitor updates indicated no definitive timeline for resolution. Horton said the district had completed its Title I application and had processes in place to report and spend the funds as required.

Horton described how the district uses federal funds: Title I funds on salaries and benefits for Title I schools and McKinney-Vento services; Title II dollars historically to support class-size reduction and professional learning; and Title IV funds for a student assistance program contract, AP/dual-enrollment fees for low-income students, and technology licensing (Discovery Education). She also listed the buildings designated as Title I schools: Boyertown Elementary School, Coldbrookdale Elementary School, Earl [Washington?] Elementary, and Boyertown Area High School West (as presented). The board did not take formal action specific to this briefing; administration said it will propose budget adjustments as needed.