A Pennsylvania School Boards Association update at the Carlisle Area School District meeting summarized funding gains in the recent state budget and flagged multiple school-code changes that district leaders said will require local follow-up.

Bruce, speaking as the district’s PSBA representative, said the state budget includes notable increases for basic education, special education and adequacy funding and that the school-code bill contains new, prescriptive requirements for districts. "For this coming fiscal year ... our Act 1 index is 4.6%," he said, explaining the index sets a ceiling on property-tax increases the district may consider for next year.

The PSBA summary also identified several changes that affect how districts interact with cyber charters, including new expectations that cyber-charter programs must speak with and visually check in with students at least once a week and expanded child-abuse recognition and reporting requirements for cyber-charter providers. The district’s administration and solicitor said they are reviewing the 21-page school-code bill and its implications for contracts, payments and oversight.

Separately, board members said the governor signed a new law on Nov. 6 that requires districts to notify all parents and employees when a student, parent, educator or other person is found in possession of a weapon on school grounds or nearby. Superintendent Colleen Friend said the district will send a family communication in December so parents understand what to expect. "We will be sending correspondence out to our families in December," Friend said.

Board members and administrators said they expect the new school-code language and funding changes to prompt policy reviews and budget planning over the coming months.