Samantha Bensing

This financial overview details the Cocalico School District's current financial status, including revenue sources and expenditure breakdown. It identifies significant financial challenges such as state funding disparities, increasing special education costs, rising cyber charter school tuition, and mandatory state retirement contributions. The document emphasizes the district's dedication to fiscal responsibility, strategic resource allocation, and balancing its educational mission with taxpayer obligations amidst these financial pressures and enrollment shifts, requiring strategic thinking and difficult decisions.

The Superintendent Goals for Cocalico School District for 2025-2026 focus on strategic and cultural leadership by providing guidance for the Middle School Renovation project and exploring next steps for the Denver Elementary School Renovation project. The goals include systems leadership by providing administrative leadership development and advancing the development of strong teams throughout the district. Leadership for learning is supported by implementing an extended day Kindergarten Academy program and strengthening the district's English Language Arts program. Professional and community leadership involves participating in community and professional organizations and promoting employee engagement with parents and the community.

The Board met with the Superintendent to review performance standards, and rated the Superintendent as having achieved or exceeded the goals for the 2024-2025 school year. The goals included strategic and cultural leadership, such as managing the Reamstown Renovation project and initial phases of the Middle School Renovation project. Additional goals were systems leadership, which involved coordinating administrative practices for managing material resources and advancing professional growth. Further goals included leadership for learning, promoting academic achievement and team-based approaches to behavioral needs, as well as professional and community leadership through participation in organizations and promoting employee engagement.

The 2024-2027 Comprehensive Plan for Cocalico School District focuses on enhancing English Language Arts (ELA) instruction through evidence-based materials and methods. It aims to improve student scores in ELA, math, and science by 2% annually through quality instruction and support. Additionally, the plan emphasizes providing professional development for staff to support social-emotional learning and positively influence student mental health.