Business manager Ted Flemenez presented a districtwide FY27 update emphasizing trends that will shape the budget and tax-rate sensitivity.

Flemenez highlighted diverging enrollment measures: a decline in classroom headcount (recent snapshots down 1–4%) alongside notable increases in the long‑term weighted average daily membership after Act 127 changes, which raise average-cost metrics used to set tax rates. He warned that small changes to the long‑term weighted ADM can materially affect the tax rate (he estimated roughly 100 fewer LTWADM would change the tax rate by nearly 5 cents).

Compensation projections were a central point: the district is estimating about an 8% increase in overall compensation for teachers and education support professionals, who together represent about 80% of the district's employees. Ted said staffing assumptions and final numbers will be finalized by the end of the month and the presented figures are preliminary.

Flemenez also reviewed specific cost areas: food-service costs rose sharply following a rebid (he cited an expected ~18% increase, near $300,000); IT baseline increases are modest but one‑time phone/PA replacement projects could add up to $100,000 in one-time costs (many qualifying for E‑Rate credits that may cover ~80% of eligible costs); and building, grounds and transportation budgets are roughly flat year‑to‑year.

Administrators repeatedly noted the uncertainty of federal grant funding (Titles I–IV and Perkins) and the state property-yield metric, which the tax department will issue Dec. 1 and which affects the ultimate tax-rate outcome. The board was told the administration will return in December with updated staffing assumptions and a more definitive budget for consideration.