Board reviews proposed 2025–26 budgets for athletics, technology and curriculum

The board heard three separate budget presentations for the 2025–26 school year covering athletics, technology and curriculum and instruction.

Athletics: Mr. Keener explained the athletics budget increased by about $21,315 overall compared with the prior year. Major drivers include roughly $15,000 for replacing boys and girls soccer and volleyball uniforms and funds to replace six batting cage nets; technology supplies rose by about $9,500 driven largely by a proposed data package for two LED scoreboards (a 17×10 foot and a 12×7 foot board) that would cost the district about $7,500 per year for data and support. Keener said he included funds for girls flag football now that PIAA will recognize it as an official sport. He also proposed replacing aging wrestling room mats (approximately $20,000) and adding baseball/softball cameras useful for livestreaming and recruiting.

Technology: Rob (technology director) presented changes driven by vendor and infrastructure needs. The district expects about $33,900 in savings from changes to primary and backup internet service providers. New licensing and communications work (ParentSquare to replace digital document delivery and augment SchoolMessenger functionality) would raise licensing expenses by about $687. The largest proposed project is a campus‑wide Wi‑Fi replacement (project scope noted around $316,000) that the presenter said would be E‑Rate eligible for partial reimbursement (the presenter estimated roughly 40% reimbursement, about $126,679, but cautioned that funding availability is not guaranteed). Rob also described a firewall replacement (end‑of‑life appliances), continuing ClearTouch/interactive board replacements for classrooms, and an increase in the district’s 1:1 device leasing driven by device repurchases and Apple buyback estimates (presenter cited a worst‑case $100,000 buyback estimate and best case $125,000).

Curriculum & Instruction: Dr. Deichler summarized her budget line changes, noting several shifts rather than new net expenditures. She moved several items into her budget for centralized purchasing (for example, an institutional ASCD/ISTE membership), which she said generated overall cost savings versus individual subscriptions. She reported a gross increase in her presented lines of $21,027.80 but characterized the net increase to her area at closer to $5,500 after reallocations.

Board members asked questions about timing for large ticket items (scoreboard and stadium equipment), E‑Rate application opportunities for advanced cybersecurity, and the planned schedule for facility priority discussions at a March 4 facilities meeting. The presenters said staff would return with more detailed proposals as needed.