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Dallastown Area SD opens 2026–27 budget season; proposes May 28 move for LeaderSites and York Township
Summary
At the Jan. 15 board meeting administration launched the 2026–27 budget process, detailing major drivers (tech set‑aside $250K, capital set‑aside $639K, $500K for added debt service) and proposed shifting the last school day for LeaderSites and York Township to May 28 to support a complex two‑site move; the board will vote next week.
The Dallastown Area School Board on Jan. 15 opened the 2026–27 budget process with an informational presentation that laid out key budget drivers and a proposed calendar change for two school sites.
Business‑office staff told the board the district is beginning budget work with several built‑in set‑asides and forecasts: a $250,000 technology set‑aside; a capital project set‑aside tied to 0.45% of the budget that staff estimated at $639,000 for 2026–27 (an increase of about $139,000 under the district’s current methodology); and an additional $500,000 of new ongoing budget dollars earmarked for debt service to accommodate upcoming capital projects. Staff also highlighted major cost pressures including salary increases (staff noted the district recently rehired eight speech‑language pathologists, with a salary impact on the order of hundreds of thousands of dollars), higher medical insurance trends, transportation contract costs and rising tuition/placement expenditures for special‑education students.
Dr. Dahl described a proposed, targeted calendar revision affecting LeaderSites and York Township Elementary that administration will bring to the board for a formal vote next week: move the last day of instruction for staff and students at those two sites to Thursday, May 28 (a full instructional day) in order to allow for a large staff transition, provide time for operational readiness at York Township before demolition and a two‑year construction start, and give teachers dedicated time to prepare classroom moves. “Our goal is to ensure a seamless transition for our staff and students as we navigate these two buildings,” Dr. Dahl told the board.
Administration also reported on construction and bond‑fund activity: Leaders Heights is nearing completion with a target for occupancy and inspection the week of Jan. 23, with a limited punch list to finish (canopies, terrazzo, pavement and furniture deliveries). Business staff said they expect to expend the 2022 bond funds this month, leaving about $291,000 remaining at month end, and will transition expenditures to the 2023 bond for ongoing work.
Routine business included approval of consent items and a high‑school field trip for a student attending an honor band festival at Ohio State (motion approved by voice vote). The calendar revision for LeaderSites and York Township will be memorialized if the board votes to approve it at the next meeting.
Provenance: Budget overview and calendar proposal discussion appear in the meeting’s finance and general information segments; Leaders Heights and bond fund updates appear in the project update segments.
