Votes at a glance: Pottsgrove School Board approves budget, tax levy, personnel appointments and contracts

The Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors voted on a range of budget, personnel and procurement items at its meeting. Most motions passed by voice vote after brief discussion; key outcomes included adoption of the 2025–26 general fund budget, approval of a real estate tax levy tied to a 2.6% property tax increase, several personnel appointments and contracts for student support services and capital work.

Highlights

- Budget and taxes: The board approved the 2025–26 general fund budget and subsequently adopted the real estate tax levy needed to fund it. The administration presented a recommended property tax increase of 2.6% to meet the board’s request for a rate within a previously discussed range. The board also approved Act 511 taxes (earned income, per capita, real estate transfer and mercantile taxes) and adopted the homestead/farmstead exclusion for 2025–26.

- Payment of invoices: The board ratified payment of May 2025 invoices totaling $2,450,943.85.

- Personnel and staffing: The board approved multiple administrative and professional staffing actions, including the appointment of Stephanie Myers as principal of Ringing Rocks Elementary (start date July 14), combined approvals of several professional-staff hires and rescissions, job descriptions under Act 93, changes in support-staff assignments, summer programming staff and the consolidation of employee compensation and benefits into the Keystone Plan.

- Contracts and services: The board approved a contract with the Lincoln Center to provide a drug and alcohol counselor at Pottsgrove High School for the next school year; approved extended-school-year contracts with New Story, the school for the deaf, Vanguard and Cottage 7; and approved attendance at a German American teacher exchange program for district staff.

- Facilities and procurement: The board rejected a bid for the tennis court project on the recommendation of the district’s design professional and authorized a rebid. The board approved a paving contract with Saxon Sons for resurfacing at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary and another school at a cost of $597,705.84. The board accepted a donated baby grand piano from Saint Aloysius at no cost and approved the purchase of janitorial management software. The district also accepted several Montgomery County Intermediate Unit cooperative bid awards for art, general, paper and medical supplies.

- Joint Operating Committee report: The board received a report from the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center Joint Operating Committee (JOC), which included student and staff survey results, approved staffing and personnel actions at the center, and noted an approved pre-apprenticeship electrical program. The JOC will meet again in August.

What passed (selected items and outcomes):

- Ratify payment of invoices (May 2025) — Motion passed; amount $2,450,943.85. - Approve 2025–26 general fund budget — Motion passed. - Adopt 2025–26 real estate tax levy (2.6% increase) — Motion passed. - Approve Act 511 taxes and per-capita tax — Motion passed. - Adopt Homestead/Farmstead exclusion for 2025–26 — Motion passed. - Approve personnel appointments including Stephanie Myers, principal (effective July 14) — Motion passed. - Approve act 93 job descriptions — Motion passed. - Approve summer programs, extended-school-year contracts and Keystone employee plan consolidations — Motion passed. - Reject tennis court bid (rebid recommended) — Motion passed. - Approve Saxon Sons paving contract — Motion passed; $597,705.84. - Accept donation of a baby grand piano from Saint Aloysius — Motion passed. - Approve purchase of janitorial management software — Motion passed. - Approve contract with Lincoln Center for drug and alcohol counselor at high school — Motion passed.

Speakers and who moved items

Motions were typically made and seconded by board members during the meeting; specific mover/second names were not consistently captured in the public transcript for every action. The superintendent, Dr. David Finnerty, presented reports and introduced personnel items. Board solicitor Brian advised the board on procedural matters, including the requirement that a vacancy appointment be by majority vote under school code.

Context and numbers to note

- May invoices: $2,450,943.85 (ratified). - Paving contract: $597,705.84 (approved). - Property tax increase discussed and applied in the levy: 2.6%.

Follow-up

Administrative follow-up includes completing year-end budget transfers and presenting them post-audit; finalizing vendor contracts; administering the oath of office to the newly appointed board member after notary availability; and moving forward with rebidding for the tennis court project as recommended by the design professional.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed in the article's speaker roster below.