Penncrest School Board approves preliminary 2025-26 budget with $525,447 deficit; votes to appeal court ruling

The Penncrest School District Board of Directors on May 12 approved a preliminary 2025-26 general fund operating budget showing a $525,447 deficit and no proposed property tax increase, and the board also voted 5–3 to file an appeal in the court case Bethany Rogers v. Penncrest School District.

The board reduced a previously reported shortfall of about $1.37 million (the administration said earlier in the meeting it had been $1,366,416) to the preliminary deficit figure through a package of proposed expenditure cuts and efficiencies. District leaders told the board that the cuts include an estimated $300,000 in transportation savings after route consolidation, elimination of two high-school positions (noted in the meeting as a PCA teacher and a high-school science teacher), $75,000 in technology hardware reductions and $25,000 in license and subscription consolidations. The administration said the total reductions shown in the package amount to $840,969.

Board members debated the size of the remaining deficit and whether to draw on fund balance. Several directors said they preferred to preserve reserves as a cushion against future uncertainty; other members said the district has a 10-year record of covering deficit budgets without dipping into reserves and urged approval so staff could continue finalizing the budget before the June deadline.

The administration told the board it had not yet received final state revenue figures and that several possible statewide changes — including adjustments to the adequacy formula and cyber‑school funding reform under discussion in Harrisburg — could affect final revenues before the June vote. The board was reminded that it must adopt a final budget by June 30; staff said they will continue to look for additional reductions or revenue updates and return to the board in June.

In a separate legal action, the board voted 5–3 to file an appeal of a prior court ruling in the case Bethany Rogers v. Penncrest School District. The motion to appeal arose out of matters discussed in executive session and was presented to the board by the district solicitor. The board’s roll-call votes on the two contested items are listed below.

Votes at a glance - Preliminary 2025–26 general fund operating budget (authorize business manager to prepare PDE 02-1928): Passed, roll call 5–3. Votes recorded: Miss Beers — Yes; Mr. Bennett — No; Mr. Brown — Yes; Mr. Chauncey — Yes; Mr. Custer — No; Mr. Johnson — Yes; Ms. Lugo — Yes; Mr. Jaworski — No. (Board document language: "approve the attached proposed preliminary 2526 general fund operating budget in millage rates and so authorize the business manager to prepare the PDE 02/1928 budget document.") - Motion to file an appeal in Bethany Rogers v. Penncrest School District (Cromwell Court ruling): Passed, roll call 5–3. Votes recorded: Miss Beers — No; Mr. Brown — No; Mr. Chauncey — Yes; Reverend Hester — Yes; Mr. Johnston — Yes; Ms. Lugo — Yes; Mr. Stavorski — No; Mr. Velasquez — Yes.

Other substantive items discussed (no final binding vote recorded tonight) - PSBA membership: The board discussed renewal options for the Professional School Boards Association (PSBA). Administration presented two tiers: an "all access" package (listed in the materials at $15,010.33 for the district) and a lower-cost standard membership ($11,510.33). Add‑ons noted in the staff presentation included administrative-regulation maintenance (annual update fee cited as $905.25) and Pennsylvania School Safety Institute access (about $1,500). Staff recommended the lower-cost renewal as the most cost-effective option but said they would return in June with a formal recommendation.

- Transfinder/Stopfinder bus-tracking pilot: The administration described a proposed pilot of the Transfinder "Stopfinder" parent‑tracking app for next school year. Staff said the district can run the app for 15 buses for a district cost of $1,500 next year to test the system in specific attendance areas; purchasing the service for the whole fleet was estimated in discussion at about $7,000. The district reported roughly 37 buses in the fleet and said the pilot would focus on higher‑need routes and rural coverage and would be evaluated for broader rollout.

- Scrap-metal donation pilot for charity: Board members supported a plan to participate in a local scrap-metal collection in partnership with a charity (referred to in the meeting as "Cans for Wishes," operating like a Make‑A‑Wish fundraising drive). Facilities staff estimated roughly one ton of scrap on‑site worth about $170 to $200, and the board asked staff to place the item on the June agenda for formal approval so the district can donate stored appliances and scrap to a scheduled community cleanup event.

- Vendor data‑security notice: The superintendent told the board staff recently learned by memo that a district vendor had paid a ransom in response to a cyber incident; the district said it was not previously informed the vendor paid the ransom. The administration said it is beginning a multi‑month review of the vendor relationship and planning alternatives; no procurement decision was made at the meeting.

Why this matters The preliminary budget vote starts the formal process that leads to a final adopted budget by June 30. The board approved a plan that keeps taxes flat but leaves a mid‑six‑figure deficit that the administration said it will continue to reduce or offset pending state revenue developments. The appeal vote moves forward a legal matter that the district solicitor recommended pursue so that the board and solicitor can seek consistency in court rulings.

What’s next The administration will continue budget work and return to the board with any additional reductions or updated state revenue figures at the board’s June meetings. Staff said they will bring a formal PSBA membership renewal recommendation in June, return with a Transfinder pilot implementation plan if the board wishes to proceed, and place the scrap‑metal donation item on next month’s agenda for a formal vote.