Dallastown board approves 2025–26 calendar, $2.45M capital transfer, tax-collector pay increase and routine field trip

The Dallastown Area School Board approved several action items during its Jan. 16 meeting, including the 2025–26 school calendar, a $2,450,000 transfer to the capital reserve fund, tax-collector compensation resolutions and an overnight middle school choir field trip.

Calendar: The board voted to approve the 2025–26 "at-a-glance" school calendar after discussion about the district's approach to snow days. Board member Frank Pantano asked whether the superintendent could be given discretion to invoke up to three traditional snow days in a school year (days without flexible instruction or make-up work). Several board members expressed support for giving the superintendent discretion; one member said they favored flexible-instruction days but supported limited traditional snow days. The motion to approve the calendar passed by voice vote (ayes/na).

Field trip: The board approved a customary overnight middle school concert-choir trip to Washington, D.C., in May, expected to include about 80 students who will tour museums and perform for feedback at a Virginia high school. The request was presented by a middle-school staff member; the board approved the trip by voice vote.

Transfer to capital reserve: The board approved item 8C, a transfer of $2,450,000 from the general fund to the capital reserve fund. The administration said the transfer is largely state funding not originally designated to the district plus previously approved budgeted funds; the item passed on a roll-call vote with the following recorded votes: Mr. Wingard — yes; Mr. Pierce — yes; Mrs. Hosler — yes; Mr. Granholm — yes; Mr. Dotterweich — yes; Mr. Bentzel — yes; Mrs. Albo — yes; Mr. Pantano — yes.

Tax-collector compensation: The board approved two resolutions (listed as 2025-1 and 2025-2) to increase tax-collector compensation by $0.25 per mailed bill, the first increase since about 2010–11. The administration said the change is required to be acted on by Feb. 15 and estimated the additional annual cost to the district would be less than $5,000. The resolutions passed on roll-call vote with recorded yes votes matching the capital-transfer roll call.

Votes and procedure: Several items were approved by voice vote after motions and seconds were recorded (the transcript records "all those in favor, aye"). Roll-call votes were used for the capital transfer and the tax-collector compensation resolutions; recorded answers for those items were read into the minutes by the board secretary.

No additional budgetary details or ordinance changes were announced for these items at the meeting; the board scheduled normal communications to staff and families following calendar approval and will publish board and internal calendars based on the approved 2025–26 calendar.