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Salisbury Township SD projects modest enrollment dip and flags $518,000 budget gap as staffing shifts are proposed
Summary
District officials projected a small drop in enrollment for 2026–27, outlined special-education and staffing changes, and reported a roughly $518,000 budget gap after review; the board approved several grant resolutions and a personnel contract for a district administrator during the March 11 meeting.
Salisbury Township School District administrators presented enrollment and staffing projections on March 11 and told the board they expect a modest districtwide enrollment decline for 2026–27 and are working to close a remaining budget gap of roughly $518,000.
Presenting the enrollment and staffing update, Mr. Lovege said the district-wide projection for 2026–27 is about 30 students below the 2025–26 count. Administrators reported building-level projections including an elementary projection of about 486 students with kindergarten projected at 88 (the five-year kindergarten average is 91 and administrators said a fifth kindergarten section may be needed depending on summer enrollment). Middle-school projection was about 429 and the incoming ninth-grade cohort at the high school was projected at 122.
On special education, staff reported the district currently serves 317 students as of March 5, 2026: 23 receiving 80%+ adult support (full-time support), 175 receiving 21–79% supplemental support, and 119 at an itinerant (0–20%) level. Administrators also described program changes proposed for 2026–27, including a possible conversion of one autistic support classroom to a transitional learning-support classroom and creation of a district-level special-education teacher on special assignment to address changing case counts.
Business-office staff presented an updated budget analysis and a set of revenue and expenditure adjustments after line-by-line reviews. The finance team reported improvements in revenue timing and collections and added a number of line-item corrections and reimbursements (including anticipated transportation subsidy adjustments and reimbursement accounts). After those changes, the remaining budget gap was approximately $518,000; finance staff said they plan further revenue refinements, will account for retirements that could produce additional savings, and will present a final budget for adoption in the coming weeks.
Separately during the regular meeting the board approved public school facility improvement grant resolutions (administrators said letters of legislative support remained pending) and approved a contract for Mr. Lovege that adjusts his benefits enrollment into the district high-deductible plan with a commensurate salary change. Board members also approved a block of personnel items and a package of policy adoptions on final reading. One personnel motion (item 5.5) failed for lack of a second.
Board members and administrators emphasized the connection between enrollment projections, staffing assignments and the budget: several speakers noted that changes in the budget could influence final staffing decisions and that the district is working to align personnel and programs with projected enrollment and special-education needs.
