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District warns of federal funding delays as leaders outline summer programs and graduation outreach
Summary
York City SD officials told the board the district may face delays in federal reimbursements and potential state funding uncertainty. The district also reviewed multiple summer programs, senior graduation outreach plans and supports for students failing courses.
Dr. Thew, the district’s chief recovery officer, told the school board on March 19 that federal-level staffing and policy changes were creating delays in grant reimbursements and data reporting that could affect district planning.
“In the short term, you're gonna be delayed getting your money back,” Dr. Thew said, describing a federal backlog after recent changes at the U.S. Department of Education. He said the district expects funds are still owed but that the timeline for reimbursement is uncertain: “We're supposed to get it, but we'll be waiting for $8,000,000 that the feds still owe us.”
The district report said ESSER allocations and other federal program activity could be delayed while states and the federal government adjust oversight and reporting processes. Dr. Thew said special education funding remains authorized but that the federal structure for oversight could change; staff said it is possible oversight responsibilities would move to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
District leaders also briefed the board on summer programming and graduation supports intended to reduce course failures and help seniors on the pathway to graduation. The report listed multiple offerings and dates the district will run (as presented): a traditional high-school summer program with two daily sessions, a rising-ninth graders program (“B.O.S.S.”) running June 16–July 17, K–8 Bearcat Opportunity programs running June 23–July 17 at hub schools (McKinley, Davis, Ferguson and Good), a pre-K summer experience June 23–July 17, ESY by invitation June 30–July 17, and a Safe Camp at Davis from June 16–July 3.
Staff described outreach to seniors: counselors have met individually with students identified as at risk and the district will start a targeted mailed-letter campaign (green/yellow/red letters) to alert families about graduation status. The board was told 40 students have “no progress” toward pathways and are a priority for counselor outreach; staff also reported 29 seniors failing one course and 36 failing two or more courses (first-semester data).
Board members asked about state budget negotiations and possible impacts on fair-funding catch-up allocations. Dr. Thew said the district will watch legislative budget work closely: “We have to just plan ahead,” he said, advising the board to factor potential state allocation changes into the upcoming budget process.
The report also included a brief summary of district events and community partnerships: a college fair at Penn that drew representatives from more than 55 institutions and an upcoming Black Men in White Coats event in partnership with WellSpan and local colleges, aimed at exposing students to medical careers.
No formal budget actions were taken during the meeting; the board will consider budget items at a future session following the district’s budget “listen and learn” process.
