Spring Cove School District

This document presents the proposed final budget for the Spring Cove School District for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It outlines the district's vision, which prioritizes student needs, a safe and caring learning environment, engaged 21st-century learning, and preparing students to achieve their individual potential. The presentation also details significant challenges such as rising mandated costs (including cyber charter, retirement, healthcare, and transportation), state tax shifts, and general inflation, while providing a schedule for the budget's adoption.

The meeting addressed state and federal funding updates, including delays in payments from the PA Department of Education. The AmeriCorps program was discussed, with SCE and MES chosen to host AmeriCorps workers. Staff training topics were reviewed, covering bloodborne pathogens, de-escalation strategies, and trauma-informed approaches. The I Love You Guys Foundation's Standard Response Protocol was also discussed. The board also discussed and voted on appointments to the Martinsburg Community Library Board, Administrative Recognition Forms, an increase in the adult breakfast price, Event Standby Agreements with AMED, and change orders for the Martinsburg Elementary Fence Project. Additionally, the board approved volunteers for the 2025/26 school year, resignations, ratification of hiring of a Paraprofessional, the Support Staff Substitute List for the 2025/26 school year, and unpaid leaves.

The budget includes revenues from local, state, and federal sources. Local sources include real estate taxes, per capita taxes, Act 511 taxes, earnings on investments, revenues from LEA activities, intermediary sources, rentals, contributions, tuition, and refunds. State sources include basic education funding, tuition for orphans, vocational education, special education funds, pupil transportation subsidies, health services, property tax reduction allocation, safe schools, ready to learn foundation and adequacy supplement, and state shares of social security, medicare, and retirement contributions. Federal sources include Title I, Title II, Title IV, and Medicaid reimbursements. Expenditures are allocated to instruction, support services, non-instructional services, debt service, interfund transfers, and budgetary reserves.

The document provides a detailed overview of the 2023-2024 final general fund budget, including validations, estimated revenues, other financing sources, and expenditures. It covers revenue from local, state, and federal sources, with a breakdown of various tax revenues, education funding, and grants. The budget outlines expenditures for instruction, support services, and non-instructional services, along with debt service and budgetary reserves. Additionally, it includes schedules of cash and investments, long-term indebtedness, and fund balance summaries.

The Spring Cove School District's Committee of the Whole meeting addressed several key areas. The Superintendent's report included congratulations to the graduating class of 2025, statistics on their post-graduation plans, and recognition of scholarship recipients. Updates were provided on the CHS roof project and the PA FFA State Convention. Committee reports covered items for the upcoming regular meeting, including overnight field trips, instructional software, library books, financial reports, contracts, policies, worker's compensation insurance, tax rates, the General Fund Budget, and a Homestead/Farmstead Resolution. The Board discussed tax rates and Cyber Charter costs, agreeing to create a resolution for legislative reform in cyber charter school funding. Additional topics included administrative recognition forms, extra pay appointments, coaching appointments, game workers, stipends, an event standby agreement, athletic ticket prices, a small games of chance resolution, a donation approval, a student withdrawal, ratification of hiring, hiring of a paraprofessional, awarding of tenure, appointment of mentors, employee compensation, hourly rates for substitutes, personnel fees, unpaid leaves, and an extension of authorization for the Superintendent to hire.