Mount Lebanon projects $2.7 million surplus; board approves personnel report naming new assistant principal

Mount Lebanon School District finance staff on June 8 presented a year‑end projection showing a $2,711,637 surplus for fiscal 2025–26, and the board approved a personnel report that names Keith Walters as assistant principal at Milan Middle School.

Treasurer’s projection: Mrs. Connelly told the board projected revenues and expenses produce an estimated surplus of $2,711,637 (about 2.2% of the budget). She attributed the change since April to a mid‑year budget freeze, lower personnel costs due to turnover, stronger earned‑income and delinquent tax collections, higher rental and tuition revenues and a Berks County Community Development (BCCD) grant of $198,645 that arrived after the budget was adopted. Mrs. Connelly cautioned the figure is a projection that will be finalized after the general ledger closes and the audit is completed.

"We are projecting a surplus of $2.7 million for 2526," Mrs. Connelly said during the meeting, adding that the district’s unassigned fund‑balance portion was 5.99% after the prior audit and the board’s goal remains an 8% unassigned target to support Moody’s rating and future capital needs.

Routine finance items and contracts: the board reviewed routine items including the monthly list of bills, two tax refunds, a list of unusable equipment, budgetary transfers totaling $6,577.92 and donations totaling roughly $86,000. Administration also presented vendor and service recommendations: Turner Dairy as the sole dairy bidder at $39,323; Hershey’s as the sole ice‑cream bidder at $8,464; and a recommended $45,000 agreement with Allegheny Health Network for strength and conditioning coaching services for athletic programs (pending legal review).

Personnel action: The board took a formal vote on a personnel report presented in the meeting. The motion read, "I move that it be resolved that the board approves the personnel report in the form presented." The roll call recorded affirmative votes from Mrs. Berdick, Dr. Campanero, Mr. Clocky, Mrs. Crabel, Miss Flecher, Miss Given and Reverend Dr. Strauss; the motion carried. The personnel report included appointment of Keith Walters as the new assistant principal at Milan Middle School; Walters thanked the board and addressed the meeting briefly.

Other items: the board reviewed an approved collective‑bargaining agreement for custodial and maintenance employees effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, and a plan to switch the district’s agenda‑management platform to Keystone Agenda starting July 1 at an annual cost the administrators said is about $2,000.

What happens next: Mrs. Connelly said the surplus projection will be confirmed during the audit and the board will continue monitoring fund‑balance progress as it evaluates future capital needs and ratings with its bond advisor.