Pike Township board reports $16 million in 2025 referendum spending and warns of $7 million hit from SEA 1

Ms. Monet Gray presented the school district’s semi‑annual operating referendum expenditure report at the June 25 MSD Pike Township School Board meeting, saying the district invested roughly $16 million in referendum initiatives in calendar year 2025 and about $4.2 million through the end of May 2026.

Gray broke down the 2025 spending as roughly $6.3 million used to sustain programs that had been supported by expired federal ESSER funds, about $9.1 million for employee compensation, and roughly $600,000 for safety and security efforts. Through May 2026 she reported approximately $1.8 million in ESSER sustainment spending, $2.3 million on compensation and about $200,000 on safety and security.

“These referendum dollars are intentionally invested to support students, employees, and the overall success of Pike Township,” Gray said, summarizing the district’s priorities. She listed examples of services sustained by referendum dollars, including academic intervention, tutoring, mental‑health services, social workers and counselors; technology sustainment such as iPads for kindergarten and first grade and new charging carts; and safety investments including a weapons‑detection system at Pike High School, expanded police coverage, two replacement police vehicles and security bollards on campus.

Board members asked specific questions about safety resources and vehicle availability. Ms. Olsen commended the addition of two new vehicles and asked whether more would be needed; Mr. Gruber replied, “all high school officers have an operating vehicle,” and that middle‑school officers were designated as stationary under the current plan. Gray said the district is pacing equipment purchases to preserve cash flow until property‑tax settlements are received in June and December.

Gray warned of looming financial pressure from state policy changes: she said a conservative model from Policy Analytics estimates Senate Enrolled Act 1 will reduce referendum property‑tax revenues by about $7 million over the next five years. Charter school revenue sharing also reduced referendum dollars, she said, citing roughly $654,000 in referendum funds shared with charter schools in 2025.

To respond, Gray said administration is working with advisors at Policy Analytics and Baker Tilly on long‑term forecasting and may strategically prioritize continuing compensation increases while spacing or re‑scoping purchases in other categories. “We believe it’s important to plan ahead based on what we know today and not wait until the uncertainty is behind us,” she said.

No formal budget or referendum reauthorization vote occurred Thursday; Gray answered board questions and the meeting proceeded to scheduled action items.