School board approves proposed 2026–27 school and nutrition budgets, including 3% pay increase

The Westmoreland County School Board voted to approve the proposed 2026–27 school board budget and the school nutrition budget after a public hearing that produced no public comment. The board approved the budgets by voice vote following a motion (seconded by Rebecca Minor) and unanimous aye votes from members who recorded votes.

Ms. Rice, who presented the proposals, told the board the packet contained familiar material and no new state updates. "This is the same information you have seen previously. We don't have any new updates from the state since we last met," she said as she opened the presentation on priorities and assumptions. She summarized the division's top goals as recruiting and retaining high‑quality staff, maintaining smaller class sizes and expanding elective course offerings.

The presentation laid out enrollment and revenue assumptions the board used to build the plan. Ms. Rice said the division projected average daily membership (ADM) of 1,512 students for 2026–27 (up from a projected 1,480 in the current year) and a projected increase for 2027–28. On revenue, she reported a projected overall increase in total revenue of $703,487 and described the funding mix as roughly 51% state, 44% local and about 4% federal, with modest additional receipts from e‑rate, Medicaid and miscellaneous sources.

Key cost and personnel assumptions in the approved proposal include a 3% salary increase for all employees (the…