Exeter Township SD board reviews state budget impact, approves routine personnel, tuition and service contracts

Board President Schaffer called the Exeter Township School District Board of School Directors to order on July 14 and asked Brian Fike, the district’s business administrator and board secretary, to take roll.

Superintendent Christy Heller opened the superintendent’s report by saying the state budget had passed. “The state has passed the budget,” Heller said. “At this point, we are ahead of the game … Ready to Learn grant … was increased, as well as the basic education funding. There was a modest increase to special education funding, and school safety and mental health grants remained funded at the same rate.” She thanked state legislators for passing the budget and said the timing makes planning for the coming year easier.

After routine approvals of minutes and the treasurer’s report, the board moved through a slate of education committee recommendations. Education Committee Chair John Fiddler presented the monthly enrollment report and asked the board to approve two field trips of more than 60 miles for the cheer and softball teams and several staff conference requests. The board approved the trips and conference attendance by voice vote after clarifying that new AP teachers must attend AP Institutes, which are sometimes offered out of state.

The board also approved several student- and personnel-related items: multiple early-graduation requests under District Policy 217; junior high, Rifton and K–4 student handbooks (the high-school handbook is still in development and expected in August); and a memorandum of understanding with the Berks County Intermediate Unit to coordinate Head Start and Title I efforts, which administration said is an annual requirement for Title I funding.

Tuition and service agreements were approved on voice votes. The board approved a tuition payment of $18,666.93 for a student to attend the Oley Valley School District agricultural program for 2026–27 under the school code. The board approved a renewal tuition agreement with the Vista School for special education services covering two students for 2026–27; the amount reported in the meeting record was $83,002.75 and $0.50 per student. The board also approved a three-year agreement to use a districtwide mass-communication and engagement service listed in the agenda (transcript: “Parents Square”) effective Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2029; administration said the contract is a fixed, per-pupil, all-inclusive annual cost with no additional SMS usage charges.

On legal services, the board approved a one-year agreement with Sweet Stevens Katz & Williams to provide legal consultation on student services from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, at a cost reported as $14,000. Administration said the contract provides training days, legal updates on mandates for student services and special education, and non-student-specific access to counsel for scenario questions.

During the Personnel Committee report, the board approved grouped resignations, retirements, appointments, transfers, change-of-status requests and related personnel items. Directors congratulated staff members approved for administrative roles.

Legislative and policy updates were given by board member and PSBA legislative liaison Dr. Anne Herring. She reported that Governor Shapiro signed the state budget on July 12 and summarized education highlights included in the budget and bills cited in the meeting packet, noting figures and proposed changes such as increased Ready to Learn funding and PlanCon reforms; Herring described bill numbers and programmatic changes as presented to the board.

No members of the public signed up for public comment. The board announced its next Committee of the Whole meeting for Aug. 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. and adjourned.