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Northern Lehigh committee weighs new special‑education and ESL hires against tax increase and capital needs
Summary
Administrators recommended adding one district ESL teacher, a middle‑school life‑skills teacher and two paraeducators, plus a shared elementary assistant principal; the committee debated using fund balance and a 3.5% preliminary tax increase to cover costs and one‑time capital items and asked administration for revised options for the board.
Administrators presented revised staffing and budget proposals as the district moves toward a June 9 board vote on the 2025–26 budget.
The administration proposed adding one district ESL teacher to address growing English‑learner enrollment, a life‑skills teacher at Northern Lehigh Middle School to expand the special‑education continuum, two paraeducators (to replace an external program) and a shared elementary assistant principal for Peters and Slatington elementaries. The presenter said the three newly proposed positions combined cost roughly $436,900 when salary and benefits are included; the elementary assistant principal was estimated at about $171,006 with benefits.
Why it matters: board members said the proposed staff would support classroom instruction and keep students in district programs rather than placing them out of district. Supporters argued the ESL hire responds to a rising EL population (administration said EL enrollment has grown to roughly the mid‑60s and could approach 75 next year). Supporters of the life‑skills position said it would reduce the need to outplace students and ease capacity pressures in existing life‑skills classrooms.
Concerns and tradeoffs: several board members cautioned that hiring recurring positions increases long‑term obligations. One member said adding a new administrator during an already tight budget might draw criticism from staff seeking higher pay. Others noted the district still faces large capital needs identified in the feasibility study (electrical, roofing and other repairs) and said those projects—and their tax implications—must be weighed against personnel additions.
Fund balance and levy options: the finance presenter reported an approximate fund balance of $18 million and outlined scenarios that combine a use of fund balance with a proposed preliminary 3.5% tax increase. Administration said the 3.5% increase would generate roughly $457,000 in additional revenue; reducing the levy to 2.5% would lower that contribution and require greater use of fund balance to close the gap.
Next steps: the committee asked administration to return with updated numbers and scenarios before Monday’s meeting so the full board has clear options (including the fiscal impact of approving the assistant principal this year versus deferring it). The committee did not take a final vote in the session; administration will bring refined budget packages and options to the next meeting.
Attribution: Quotes and specific cost figures are attributed to the presenters and finance officer speaking at the committee meeting. The committee discussion included multiple board members voicing support for some positions and caution about recurring costs.
