Great Valley finance committee advances budget options, debates adding ELD teacher and contingency size

Sherry Chambers, finance staff, told the Great Valley School District finance committee that the district remains on track with Pennsylvania Department of Education timelines for adopting a final 2025–26 budget and presented three millage scenarios and associated spending choices.

Chambers said the committee’s working options included a 3.75% millage proposal, a revised 3.48% proposal produced after board feedback, and a lower 3.25% alternative. The 3.75% scenario included five prioritized new staff positions, an increased contingency line, and no other expenditure adjustments; the 3.48% scenario keeps the same five positions but reduces some expenditures (technology purchases, laptop replacements and certain facilities estimates) to shrink the levy to 3.48% and produce an estimated $58,000 surplus compared with the earlier projection. "We are on track to meet them," Chambers said referring to PDE timelines.

The committee focused on one position not included in the 3.48 plan: an additional English-language-development (ELD/ESL) teacher for the high school. Administrators said the high school has roughly 50 students with an ELD designation and that students are concentrated at lower…