South Fayette board elects 2026 leadership, adopts tax-resolution under Act 1 of 2006

South Fayette Township School District held its reorganizational meeting and swore in newly elected board members before electing officers and taking routine fiscal actions. Bill Gray was elected board president for 2026 and Lynn Fornella was elected vice president; both accepted their nominations. The board also adopted a property tax resolution under Pennsylvania’s Act 1 of 2006 allowing a 2026–27 tax increase not to exceed the district’s base index of 4.5 percent.

The meeting began with the oath of office for newly and re-elected members administered by the presiding official. Following the oath, the holdover members elected a president pro tempore to oversee the election of the board president. Bill Gray was nominated and, after a roll-call vote of members present, accepted the position of board president for 2026. Lynn Fornella was nominated and approved as vice president.

Brian Neely, the superintendent and director of finance, presented a resolution under Act 1 of 2006 to permit a property tax increase for fiscal year 2026–27 not to exceed the district’s base index of 4.5 percent and said a copy of the approved resolution will be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The board approved the resolution by roll call. The board also approved routine business office and personnel items (personnel items 1, 3 and 4 were approved; item 5 was tabled for later consideration).

Board members reviewed representative and committee assignments, with staff noting appointments can be finalized through January if members prefer to consider them further. The board moved and approved to close the reorganization portion of the meeting and begin the regular meeting, then voted to amend the agenda to include a superintendent recommendation accepting the resignation of intermediate school principal Tom Kaminski retroactive to 11/28/2025 and to add approval of an insurance reimbursement agreement.

Votes at a glance: - Election of president pro tempore: motion carried (holdover members voted; motion recorded as carried). - Election of board president (Bill Gray): roll-call vote carried; Gray accepted the nomination. - Election of vice president (Lynn Fornella): motion carried; Fornella accepted the nomination. - Property tax resolution (Act 1 of 2006): approved by roll call; resolution permits an increase up to the district base index of 4.5% for fiscal 2026–27; approved resolution to be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. - Personnel items: items 1, 3 and 4 approved; item 5 (intermediate school substitute placeholder) tabled.

The meeting record shows routine procedural votes and assignment discussions; the board moved to an executive session at the end of the public meeting. The board did not take public action on a facilities remediation plan during this meeting; a resident asked the board to outline such a plan at the next meeting.