Whitehall‑Coplay faces $9.4 million gap; board weighs tax increase and program, staffing reductions

Whitehall‑Coplay School District administrators told the board at committee meetings on May 11 that the district is starting the 2026–27 budget cycle with a projected $9,414,000 shortfall and will need a combination of tax revenue, fund‑balance use and program or staffing reductions to balance the budget.

Business manager Mr. Malay told the finance committee that updated revenue estimates—an increase in assessed real estate that added about $124,000, a $25,000 transportation subsidy boost and about $6,900 in state gaming receipts—bring total revenues to roughly $101.8 million. On the expense side, the district is accounting for higher projected unemployment costs, a roughly $273,000 increase in fuel costs and other expenditure increases, leaving a beginning gap of about $9.4 million.

Administration modeled options to narrow the gap. A 4.7% proposed tax increase would produce an estimated $2,482,000, reducing the remaining shortfall to about $6.1 million, Mr. Malay said. The administration then outlined a list of possible reductions and one‑time steps that would further reduce the deficit, including deferring bus purchases (roughly $1.5 million), additional building and department budget trims, technology spending cuts, and not filling certain paraprofessional vacancies. More substantial personnel changes under discussion included reductions to secretarial staff (from 11 positions to a proposed six), some coaching positions, and targeted educator positions (examples cited included one music teacher and one science position), as well as potential changes to MTSS staffing. Administration noted that eliminating building substitutes would lower costs but requires a multimonth due‑process process for certificated staff.

Why it matters: the board majority has said a final budget must be in place by mid‑June, and administrators emphasized that some cuts will be recurring and affect classroom offerings and student supports. Administration also flagged charter‑school tuition as a major ongoing pressure: board members said the district expects to pay roughly $7.3 million for students who attend charter schools next year, a line item community members repeatedly cited during public comment.

Parents, students and taxpayers filled committee rooms for a lengthy public‑comment session on the finance agenda. Students and community members urged the board to protect arts, music and extracurriculars. “The music department should not be removed from the school,” student Briana Faustst said, describing the marching band and color guard as vital supports for many students. Several speakers asked the board to prioritize administrative and nonrecurring expenses rather than classroom staff, and several urged the district to publish a clear, line‑by‑line expenditure report so residents can see where money was spent.

Board responses and next steps: Finance chair Mr. Williams and other board members repeatedly told the public that the cost drivers are multi‑factorial—teacher contract increases, rising benefit costs, charter payments and inflationary spikes for fuel and utilities—and that the board must balance competing goals. A board member replied directly to concerns about the music program, saying, “We have not proposed any cuts to band, music, or any student activities at this time.” Administration said a reorganization plan will return to the board at the next Monday meeting and that the board expects to hold a final budget vote in mid‑June.

What’s next: the district plans further committee and board deliberations, an administration reorganization recommendation next week, and a final budget adoption vote before the statutory deadline. Community members were told a fuller, line‑item expenditure report can be made available on request and that administrators are available to meet with residents for deeper briefing.