001Good evening. Like to call the order of the meeting of the Central Dolphin School District Board of Directors for Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. Miss Fuller, call the role. >> Mrs. Bingamin >> here. >> Mr. Dorman >> here. >> Mr. Stein >> here. >> Mr. Gordon >> here. >> Mrs. Hanford >> here. >> Mr. Garlic >> here. Mr. Jacobs >> here. >> Miss Kavali, I'm sorry. >> Here. >> Mrs. >> here. >> We have nine board members present. >> Thank you. Before we jump to the flag, I just want to uh welcome our two new uh board of directors, uh Andrea Kavoli and Tom Garlic. They were appointed at the last schoolboard meeting. So, um this is their first meeting and they're joining us remotely. So, please welcome Andrea and Tom. Thank you. Please join us
002for the pledge of the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Moving on to item 401, additions, deletions, and modifications to the agenda. Do any board members have any additions, deletions, or modifications for this evening? >> I do. Um, I would like to make a number 803. There's two student adjudications that were left off, number 1346 and 1347. >> Due to the 24hour rule in advance of the agenda, we uh did not get them on the agenda in time. So, we must modify this evening agenda to include student adjudications 1346 and 1347 in item 8003. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor
003signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Item 803 is amended to reflect uh student adjudications 1346 and 1347. Moving on to item 501, approval of the February 10th, 2026 meeting minutes and February 12th special meeting minutes. Mr. Turman, >> the administration is recommending approval of the February 10th, 2026 meeting minutes and February 12th, 2026 special meeting minutes. >> May I have a motion to approve? Motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> Moving to information and proposals, I'd like to announce to those of us joining uh online as well as those joining here in the room in person that uh the board held an executive session prior to the this evening's meeting to discuss student adjudications as
004well as legal issues. Moving to item 602. U as I think most folks are aware, we have the pleasure of having um students address the school board. We uh have speakers from both high schools as well as our cyber academy. And tonight we're fortunate to have a student speaker from Central Dolphin East High School. So please welcome Jada Jada Bugwa. >> Good evening. Thank you to the administration of Central Dolphin School District and the school board for giving me this opportunity to speak this evening. I'm very grateful to be here. My name is Jada Bo and I a senior at CD East High School. My time here has given me some of my most cherished friendships and memories as well as amazing learning opportunities. Graduation will be in just over three months and after that
005I plan to pursue a bachelor's in biology with the goal of becoming a pediatric physician assistant. I am still undecided where I will be attending, but I have been accepted to Penn State, Temple, Ruckers, and Pit. So, I'm excited about the year to come. Personally, I am very proud that in 12th grade, I completed a competitive internship at Hershey Medical Center called the Healthcare Explorations Program with three other selected students from my school. I also serve as the vice president of HOSA and Fort Diamonds. And I'm also secretary of the National Honors Society. I participate in the Big Brothers with Sister program at East Middle School and tutor at the high school at various subjects. Academically, I strive to challenge myself and have taken six AP classes and numerous honors courses to maintain my 4.0
006GPA. I'm happy to report some of the highlights at East High from the last month or so. World language week created an opportunity for all foreign language students to mix it up with one another. The popular activity was a bingo card where students had to ask questions to adults about their foreign language studies and knowledge. Over 80 teachers participated. Additionally, there were seven students who participated in the national German exam. Two students earned certificates of achievement and the rest were awarded certificates of recognition. Assistant Principal Kennedy reports that over 320 students earned distinguished honors and honor role for the second markup period at CD East High School. Way to go Panther Scholars. The East High varsity mock trial team competed at the district mock trial competition at the Dolphin County Courthouse this month. Zeta Til
007and Alex were all awarded for their performances and the entire team proudly represented the school in front of attorneys, judges, and law students from across the region. AP language and composition students have been analyzing current speeches and court decisions as well as practicing synthesis essays and how to analyze resource weaknesses to address tension and counterargument as we prepare for the AP lang exam in May. Students have made excellent progress since the beginning of the year in understanding rhetoric and argument and its application in both academics and in the real world. English teachers Miss Cavishto, Miss Migo, and Miss P had students contribute creative writings to collaborate with students in Mr. Cell's art classes. Those art students will be reading the writings and will respond visually to them through artwork. Some of the resulting artwork along
008with the writing that inspired the imagery will be shown at the secondary art department art show, which will be held at CD Middle School the evening of April 23rd. AP chemistry students have been working hard to build their own calerimeters from household objects to study thermodynamics. They will compete to see whose calerimeters works the best. Coach Pard would like to recognize the five CDE student athletes who committed to play football at the next level. Their athletic success as well as academic and personal development has provided them this opportunity to further their education and continue to play the sport that they love. Genesis and Avery Roma will be at West Liberty University. Sincere Jackson will be attending Lock Haven University. Kamari Clark will be at Wilks University. And Lonnie Shepard will be at Eastern University. The
009East High Unified Botchi teams had a great season. We finished third and sixth out of 10 teams in the Keystone Division. We were able to participate in the playoffs for the first time in three years of the program. Our hope is to get an extra court that we can lend to elementaryaries and middle schools so they can experience the sport as well. The East High chapter at FBLA has advanced from the preliminary rounds and will compete at the state level supply chain management competition on April 4th, 2026. The Asian Student Association Club met on Thursday to learn about Chinese culture and Lunar New Year. They made their own red envelopes by following a step-by-step tutorial together. The envelopes are commonly made in Chinese culture to symbolize good luck, energy, and protection from evil spirits and
010are commonly exchanged during Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays. The color red signifies joy, passion, and good fortune. The bright red color is believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. The red envelopes are then gifted to friends and family with small gifts or money inside to help wish them good luck in the new year. A great time was had by all the students. The Red Cross Club is participating in the American Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Campaign. The club hosted a scavenger hunt for the students to learn more about the rules and protections journalists are privy to during war and civil conflict. The club is also planning a digital online game night to be offered to students who wish to learn more about journalism and wartime. At the end of the campaign, the
011club will submit the final project summary for review and enter into the national competition. Finally, we would like to congratulate all of our winter sport athletes. Of special note, we would like to congratulate Samira Madu for reaching the thousand point milestone and Elijah Cooper for setting the all-time scoring record at East High School. Thank you again for your support of the students and teachers at East High. Thank you. >> Well done, Jada. Thank you. >> Just before you go, Penn State is the best choice you should pick. Moving to item 603, staying in information and proposals, the superintendent spotlight. Mr. Chairman, >> thank you. Uh, so we have two of our teams that we would like to highlight tonight. Um, Jada, I will say that you did steal my speech for CD CD East the
012Botchi team. Uh, so I did everything you said I had written down here. Um, but what we would like to do is to bring up the CD East Botchi team. um coached by Lorie Stone. Um as said stated previously, they were third in the Keystone division out of 10 teams and they also received the bronze medal. So coach, if you'd like to come up and say a few words and and your players would like to say a few words as well. >> I never turn down chance to talk. I'm a coach. Um thanks for having us. As you can see, we have almost everyone here. I have a couple kids at other practices now that spring sports are gearing up, but this is such a great program, and I know I speak for the CD
013side, too, is it is such an inclusive thing, and it makes great friends of kids that may not have ever had the chance to be friends. We just have a lot of fun. You guys have a lot of fun. >> Yeah. And I didn't even pay him to say that. But like we were just talking yesterday, we had pizza party at practice. We don't have to run. So nobody's mad because they have to run or they can't run or they're hurt. Nobody's ever hurt for Botchi. Like it's the best thing ever in all my coaching life. It's just been the best thing ever. But um thanks for recognizing these guys. This is our third year. We made playoffs this year for the first time. um took third out of the Keystone division out of 10
014teams. Our two teams placed third and sixth. So that was really good. Um these guys just show up every day. They they encourage each other. They encourage people around them. They're encouraging new players for next year, right? >> Jack's coach. >> Jeremiah's our um he's our motivational speaker every every practice, right? >> Hey Oh, you made it. >> Yeah. So, thank you. Um, do you have any questions? >> Congratulations on all your success. We appreciate it. Thank you all. >> Can you guys each come up and just introduce yourselves to us? I mean, we can't even see the back, but >> Mr. Did Did you have a question, Mr. Ebstein? >> Yeah, I did. I I've never seen a botchi ball. How big is it? >> A botchi ball is about this big. The difference
015between inside and outside is that inside ones are rubbery and they're filled with a water so that they don't roll as fast. >> But um >> and you're saying nobody has been injured yet? >> Nobody. >> Now that could be me that I >> now I got you. That's good to know. I never thought of. >> Okay. So they just want to know your name. Why don't you say name in grief? >> You start. >> My name is Jeremiah Holmes. I'm from Ces High School and I'm in 11th grade and I'll be your senior next year. >> Hi, Renee Salandra. >> Asa Steel, 11th grade. >> Hi, I'm Gabby Paul and I'm a senior this year. Hi, my name is Mariah Pestuch and I'm in 11th grade. >> Hi, my name is Alexander Melendres and
016I'm a senior this year. >> Hi, my name is Alexis George and I'm a junior. >> Hey guys, um my name is Malia Aassum and I'm a junior. >> Hi, my name is Sophie Healey and I'm a junior. Hi guys, my my name is A Dup. I am see you next year. >> Hi, how are you? I'm Yaya 12. Hi, I'm Ranjana. My name >> My name is Leo Fury and I'm a senior. >> My name is Julius Kenza. I work for Nutrition Inc. and assistant coach assistant coach. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you for how you represent the school district and the high school. So, thank you very much. >> So, there's a lot more girls and boys in boxing. >> It doesn't really matter. It's a co-ed sport, so it's just how things end
017up. >> No, I just was thinking about recruiting. >> Yeah. Oh, and Friday we're going to the Polar Plunge to raise funds for Special Olympics. So, this is our second year and we're all psyched to get frozen. >> Thank you guys for coming. We appreciate it. >> Okay. So, next we would like to bring up the CD High School girls wrestling team and coached by Jimmy Collins. The CD High School girls wrestling team is the first PIAA District 3 girls team wrestling champs. Jimmy, >> stand up. Don't be shy. >> All right, girls. >> Come on, ladies. >> Yeah, I doubt you're this shy on the mat. >> All right. Um, I didn't realize that I was going to be speaking tonight, so I didn't have anything prepared. Um, I just want to thank the
018board and the administration for giving us the support um, the past couple years. When I was growing up in wrestling 25, 30 years ago, girls weren't in gyms. Girls didn't go on mats. And as you can see behind me, there's a lot of interest. Um, there's a lot of numbers in our school, in our area for girls wrestling. And it's a really cool thing to say that the girls have support. um they have the coaches and the administration to say you get to have this interest, you get to have this goal, you get to pursue it and accomplish at a high level. So thank you for that. Uh to thank the parents as well. Uh the program that we have is fantastic in terms of support um in terms of just following us. I was
019telling a story that recently um we woke up on a Sunday morning to go to Wayne'sboro which is like an hour and a half from here and it was like 5:30 in the morning and the girls and the parents were messaging me saying are we having this event because there were 4 in of snow on the ground that morning. So I called Mr. Hunter I called uh transportation and they were like I I guess we're doing this. So all right. So we went down an hour and a half to Wesboro was a delayed start and we look up you know and almost every parent is with us in the stands. So, it's really been nice to have the support of the school district as well as the families with us as well. Um, we've been
020working towards this for three years and having won the district title this year has been a really special thing. It's the first district title um in our school history, but the first for district three. So, with the exception of Abby Stetler and Eli Johnson who were in the elementary program, the rest of these girls had their first season of wrestling in high school in our room. So it was a cool thing to win this event and accomplish with a team of girls who've learned this and worked this together um in three years. So um congratulations to the girls as well. So thank you again for your support. Um also thank you for the support that the was given to us this year to sanction and have a standalone junior high girls team for us as
021well as our friends over on the east side. And I think that that is going to make a huge difference in terms of just um giving opportunities to other young girls and just kind of growing our programs and the sustainability and stability of what we do. So, thank you. >> That's pretty good for not having a speech. >> I was at states last year and I'll be there again. So hopefully we'll see some of you there. >> I'm sure we will. >> Yeah, I'm sure we will too. I think last year was quite a thrill. I think the match lasted a minute. >> Something about maybe maybe >> level. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Do we have any seniors on the team that >> So, we have one senior. She is here. >> McKenzie. >> Are
022you going to pursue wrestling in college? >> I am not, but I did get an offer from a D3 school. It's called Cedar Crest College. I do not plan on going there because I do plan on continuing my education in at Penn State Harrisburg to major in elementary education. So, >> they don't offer wrestling there, but I really want to go there. >> Any of you girls interested in playing or doing wrestling in college? Raise your hand. >> Ah, very nice. >> Coach, can we have the girls introduce themselves? >> Sure. Um, so go ahead and give your name and your your your year. >> Name and year. Yeah. >> I am Mackenzie Martin and I'm a senior this year. >> Yeah. Class of 27. >> Hi, I'm Kate Hollinger and I'm a junior. >>
023I'm Aaliyah Johnson and I'm a junior. >> My name is Rasha Ryan. I'm a junior. I'M Rosie Reese and I'm a junior. >> I'm Laya Baris and I'm a junior. >> I'm Brooklyn Gilbury and I'm a junior. >> Um, I'm Nikita Mori and I'm a junior. >> I'm Madison Refe and I'm a junior. Hi, I'm Lyanna Diji and I'm a junior. >> Hi, I'm Ava Peek and I'm a junior. >> I'm Sophia Win and I'm a junior. >> Anybody not a junior? >> I'm Ashley Huffman and I'm a sophomore. >> There you go. >> I'm Alexa. and I'm a sophomore. >> I'm Abby Stetler and I'm a sophomore. >> My name is Marilyn Son and I'm a sophomore. >> My name is Reis Lenain and I'm a freshman. >> Hi, I'm Brooklyn and I'm a
024freshman. Hi, I'm Annie Jur and I'm a freshman. Hi, I'm Eliza Helman and I'm a freshman. >> Coach, you have a young team. >> We do. And then also want to recognize our assistants, uh, Coach Dame Settler, um, Theresa Hitchcock, and then also THE >> good luck in the state championships and, uh, best of luck, girls. Thank you for representing Central Dolphin High School and Central Dolphin School District. We appreciate it. Thank you. >> Well done. >> I was just going to say >> good luck. >> Oh man, you know, >> we'll go up his stance. We'll go. >> What's it? Thanks, brother. >> There you go. >> All right, man. Spotlight's on you. >> No, Terry, you got to sit down. >> Come on, Terry. >> Holy cow. >> We just went from a
025f rally to a theater with We won't be clapping for you. >> All right. Thank you to uh the Botchi team and the girls wrestling team. Um moving on, staying in information and proposals item 604, the 2026 2027 budget presentation. There will be a series of presentations leading into the enactment of the district's budget. This is the first presentation. Mr. B will present the budget presentation for the school year. Mr. >> B, >> I don't know how I'm going to follow that, but I'll do my best. Um, so I think that really the it was great thing to see the kids here because that reminds us what we're all doing here. Um, this first budget presentation is really going to focus on the local on the revenue side of the budget, which is probably the
026the easier side to focus on to going forward. So what I would like to do is start on the on the local side where the district generates most around 6 uh9% of its revenue where it generates it from. So if we start with the start the top part of it where you look at the millage rate where you guys did levy a tax increase last year to bring your millage rate to 18.29% 29% and I'll draw your attention to the 2627 uh budget rate where you look at the 611 which is your current real estate. If you kept the millage rate the same you would generate 108,830 $830,711. And if you s if you focus on the next four three columns over it will show you if the levy was increased by 1.9% 2.9% and
0273.9%. I will touch on that a little bit later. If you scroll down, uh, if you continue to move down the chart, you will look at what interim real estate taxes are. Interim real estate taxes are tax rates that include home homes that uh are assessed uh with new construction or additions that occur after the real estate taxes are levied in July. public utility reality taxes, payments in Lua taxes, and then the uh the current uh taxpayer relief taxes or what they are called that is the local earned income tax which is your second highest levy at 59,79271. That shows a continual increase. If you look back 2 years previous, it goes from 53 million to 55 million to 58 million. That shows that the economy in the area is continually to grow. If you
028look at the delinquencies on taxes levied, that is the taxpayers that do not complete or do not pay their local or current real estate taxes before December 31st. And the reason that number is trending downwards from the pandemic levy is because the economy in this area is a stronger economy. and we see around a 96 to 97% collection rate on the 611 current real estate taxes. And so that shows that that number is continually to decrease. And so when we looked at that trend, we continued to lower that trend to $3 million. The earnings are in the earnings on investments, we continued to lower that number down because of the market trends to cut interest rates, which is the federal government's way to control inflation. We lowered that down to 2.8 million down from a
029high a of 3.8 million which was uh about 2 years ago. We lowered that down to 2.8 million. And then the revenue in the other columns are relatively uh just some minor uh commitments in that. So there's some questions about the 609090 which is the revenues or refunds and other miscellaneous revenues. what the other miscellaneous revenue are are revenues that come in from other uh things that we collect throughout the school district throughout the year. um whether that be magisterial district fines that are levied through. And now this may seem like we're not bringing in millions of dollars per fine, but when you have so many students and so many different things and so many different repairs, Chromebook repairs and different things of that nature, I could prepare a full report to you and show
030you the numerous report and the money that go in there. They offset other expenses throughout the uh the uh on the other side of the expense ledger that come in. So, if we have a Chromebook repair and we collect that from a parent that goes in there, uh, badger replacements and different things of that nature, even though it's only a small amount, there are numerous different revenues that do not fall into the classifications of 611 down to 6980 that go that fall into that revenue stream. So if you look at the totals, if no tax increase, no tax levy was changed from the 20 from 2526 to 2627, the local revenue would that would generate would be 184,240,97. So that is on the local side of the revenue. >> Before you go further, can can
031you just explain um >> 69 or 6,700 revenues from LEA? What's LEA? Uh that's the the I forget what the >> local education. >> Yeah, the local education agency. I'm sorry, Sarah. Thank you. I couldn't remember. It's the top. It was the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't remember. It's a local education agency. Your age. >> Oh, so that comes in from other school districts. Yes. >> When we have to educate other school districts. >> Yeah. >> Why do we put such a low number there? >> Cuz we we uh we we don't educate as many students. We don't bring a lot of other students in here to educate them. So, >> understood. But we went from 190 to to projecting 20,000. >> Right. So we keep that. We keep that number. What was
032that? >> We keep that. >> Is that the rental column? >> Yeah. >> Oh, the rental column. >> No, I'm sorry. From 139 it was consistent in the in the >> hundreds and then we dropped down to 25,000. >> Correct. So we some of the students that we were educating uh either graded out or are no longer being educated here. So we took them out and then we just don't have any students to replace them. So that's why the the number has declined. >> Understood. >> Yes. And then the rental column, just to touch on the rental column, the rental column, we're being conservative until we see what the rentals uh the rental number comes in at. >> I'm sorry. >> Was it that big of a change between 23 and 20 23 24 to
0332425? Well, I think we've been budgeting $20,000 in the rental column and so we just had a spike cuz the 2425 is an actual collection. So, we've just because the if you look at the 23 24 actual 21,950 we had an artificial uh spike to 19057. I can get you the actual report to see what was put in there, but every single year it's been around $20,000. So, I I can't >> I'm concerned that that's not an a of error there and it's 19,000. I mean that seems like that's not a >> No, that's an audited number. So that's number that was came from our auditors. So I would imagine that's a that's a solid and true number there. >> We have a new protocol in place. So let's see how it plays out. >>
034That's why we kept it that's why we kept it at 20,000. >> I think we didn't have any lacrosse tournaments this year for example like that they didn't have any this summer. They did the previous summer before. So it brings in a lot of revenue. So, Peter, um, if we look at the 26 27 columns, um, the four columns that you have to the right of the current year, um, a 1.9% tax increase potential would only add additionally bring in what, $2 million, >> right? There's other slides on here that will show the actual dollar amount that a a tax levy increase would bring in. So, we can touch on that a little bit later in the presentation. And so it'll actually show you the exact dollar amount that each revenue increase will will bring
035will will bring in. >> But at flat we're we're projected to bring in >> about $800,000 more. And and that's basically driven by the uh there's of the increase in the earned income tax because of the growth in the uh industry. >> Why was there a jump in 8 million from 45 to 56? Um in terms of >> there was a tax increase. >> Oh that was generated all but because of the the increase. Okay. >> Yeah. And there was also an increase in assessed values. >> Nothing to do with the potentially increase in state funds. >> No the state funds are the next the next slide. So there was also a tax increase and there was an increase in assessed value as well. So these numbers also assume that the the assessed values that
036have not come from the Dolphin County yet um are this is a conservative number. The assessed values may climb and also with the reverse tax uh appeals that are in there, they are not necessarily fully included in this numbers either. So this is a kind of this is a semic-conservative number as well on this. So there may be a little bit more revenue that comes in if with no levy. on the reverse tax appeals. We have nine cases that are outstanding and could produce up to $40,000 more. But I don't know, you know, it's hard to account for how much we'll actually get from the reverse taxes um minus fees and when everything settles up. >> Yeah. And the Dolphin County doesn't certify their assessed values until May. >> So that's when the final number
037comes out and then we sol we solidify what each one of these will bring in. >> Thank you. Yeah. So on the state side of revenue that was brought in um you look at so I the car the columns still carry over. So you don't necessarily want to look at the percentage increases. That's just the tax levy. But when you look at the state revenue sources we did carry over what the state governor proposed in his budget for the 711 which is the basic ed funding formula which does carry over not only what the governor proposed this year um in the budget. So when the budget when we prepared when the district prepared the budget in 2526 we actually got a little bit more in the basic ed funding formula. So that's included included with
038and also included in this budget is what the governor is proposing for 2627 um as we believe we're pretty confident and fairly confident that we're going to get that. So that's what the 297516 is included. uh the basic education funding for social security. What that number is is that's the number we are reimbursed 50% of our social security deduct from our salaries and benefits. That number is a conservative number because we have not completed the import of all of our salary and benefits. So that is an estimate which is basically a small increase from last year but that number will be higher because our salary and benefits number will be higher or so that number will increase uh uh per uh uh in concurrently along with our salary and benefit number. The same number the
039same thing with 7820 at the bottom which is the second highest number which is the state share of the retirement contribution which is 50% of what the pasers rate is as well. That number will climb higher too as well as so long as well as our uh as our peaser's number increases for 7271. The number is smaller than it uh than it appears. And that number is an accurate number. It was double checked because the state did reduce if you remember >> the state reduced our special education uh subsidy money from what we budgeted for for 262 for 2526. And that does include an increase from what we were budgeted for this year. But the state did reduce our 2526 state subsidy for what the governor passed due to a change in the formula that
040was um that was provided. So while which is a very strange thing to do because our special education funds is the second highest driver of our of our costs. So just keep that in mind when you're talking to your state legislators. When you look at 7340, which is one of the other higher cost drivers in this budget, that is the homestead farmstead exemption number, that number, that money goes directly back to the state taxpayers in their homestead farmstead reduction that goes back out to them on their tax bills. And the second or that's not the second highest, I apologize. It's the ready tolearn foundation and the ready tolearn adequacy supplement. If you follow the chart back, as you can see, starting in 2324, what the what the foundation number was, that foundation number started at
0411,23,711. We then received the first adequacy payment in 2425, which was 5,53,934 and our and our foundation number stayed the same. In 2526 that adequacy supplement rolled into the foundation which made the foundation number 6,78,822. We then got another uh adequacy number at 5,ion55,235. In 2627 we we received a adequacy increase of approximately 1 million a little over $1 million to make the adequacy number now $6,149,980. That money then rolled into the foundation, making the foundation number now 12,227,625 with another adequacy supplement payment budgeted to our district of 6,14980. Now you may think to yourself, the district is going to be rolling in the cash. That's not necessarily true. There are a substantial amount of restrictions and strings that are attached to these adequacy supplement payments. Now obviously you look to 20 the other three
042columns there for 26 26 and 26. So it doesn't show you that in 27 or 28 that 6,14980 will then roll into the foundation again to make the foundation $18 million and we'll get another $6 million supplement. What we need to do is we need to find a way to make this money more flexible so that we can use it for current expenditures or the adequacy payment is just going to make us add more expenses to our budget than it is going to help us. It's not going to catch us up which is what the whole principle of the adequacy payments were for was to catch up districts that were behind in their expenses. So, Peter, what what we're saying so folks understand is we got money from PTE with strings attached and some of
043those strings limits what we can spend the money on and in some instances we may even have to create programs. At the same time, we're pretty much flatfunded for basic ed, special ed, and transport transport. >> Transportation has been flatfunded as you could look at um the pupil transportation subsidy, the actual amount has been flatfunded for many years. Like if I gave you a 5-year look back, it would be even flatter. The special educa the special education subsidy payment has been extremely flatunded as well and our costs have far outweighed the the increases that we have received. If this adequacy payment would have been allowed to go to cover just even our special education students and our special education uh uh services and and needs that we absolutely need to make our most uh vulnerable
044students to give them the services that they need. This would be much uh a much better situation for us. Instead, we have to come up with programs or services that would then add an equitable amount of of expenses to the budget that quite simply are not going to help the district match match what the adequacy uh what the the the purpose of the adequacy money was when they instituted it. So, I think it's important that you guys get to the legisle and get to um your your state reps and state senators and let them know that this is what the challenges that school districts are facing that are getting huge adequacy payment like large adequacy payments like this. >> Can you give us an example of what you're talking about like an added we have
045to add a program? So for an example, for an example, our district had, if it wasn't for the fact that we added all day kindergarten, which will eat a lot of this adequacy payment up, the district would have would had to have added full day kindergarten now because of the fact that we had to find a program to add. That was one of the levers that we had to pull. Mr. Turman had the foresight to do that before we even got there. But there's other things in that lever that other programs that are in those 20 different levers and ideas that are listed on the ready tole learn when you go if you search ready tolearn block grant or on the PD site it lists the 20 of them that were there. Um I could
046give you I could supply a list and we can go over it in depth in one of the other budget future budget meetings or finance committee meeting or we could lay it out and show them I'll show other ones that are there. I I I don't need like the list, but I think it's important so that I understand what those are and even the community understands how we're being put in a box. >> Sure. So, there's other like there's there's at at some point there's like social workers that you could have in there. We could put all of our social workers that we have in there in there for one year. But then when you put all your social workers in there, you would then either have to add more social workers that we may
047not need, which is adding then an expense that you already have or you would have to figure out another program that would add more expenses to that. Um, it would be another curriculum spend or another additional program that would add another expense to your budget that wasn't already there. The point of the adequacy money was to make up districts that were so far behind in state funding, but it's not really doing that. It's causing them to add more stuff than it was to catch them up. >> Peter, my understanding is that, correct me if I'm wrong, the ready tolearn money is the product of the litigation and the settlement around the lawsuit. Um and basically this is the program that the state created in order to create compliance with um the lawsuit and and the
048reason why Central Dolphin as a district disproportionately benefits when compared to other districts is that over time be um the state funding hasn't kept up with num two issues. One our growth in our student population as well as two the relative poverty level of our student population. My understanding was that those two drivers should have theoretically increased our share of state funding which didn't and remain flat while those two things accelerated from a growth perspective. And so Central Dolphin, if you looked at districts, the 501 school districts across the state, Central Dolphin was one of the main beneficiaries of the the program that the state created coming out of the litigation. >> Correct. You are correct 100%. And instead what it's doing is it's creating a reverse effect and we'll have in probably two years
049create a put a a big pro we'll have the board and the administration will have a bigger problem in two years. Um if Mr. Turman is if Mr. Turman could speak a little bit I think in two years we'll probably you know be in a bigger pickle um than we are you know currently. Now we're not going to turn down any money but when you get to the $45 million mark that's where it becomes problematic. So, I think we have we definitely have everything covered for next year. Um, I think looking out the year after that, we should be okay. It's that year five and six, which potentially we're really going to have to be creative in terms of what we earmark that money for. That's part of those 20 categories unless we're able to
050get the legislature to amend the restrictions and the guard rails around the use of the dollars. >> Correct. Correct. >> I don't think they're aware honestly. I mean, I think it's more education than we can't lobby, but I would I would wager that a lot of folks don't understand what you just said because it took me a while, you know, to >> Yeah. So, Paso's working hard on that, similar to it took them probably about eight or nine years, just to give an example, to figure out that the multi-county balancing thing wasn't working out and they're finally working on a fix now. So, hopefully they're going to work on a fix to get them to that level as well. So >> before you go any further, um the community heard about when the budget was
051passed how charter school reform was going to save us money and all that stuff, but when you look at charter school up here, there's really nothing there. >> Yes. So charter school reform, we got the one payment for 933,918 in 2425. the the charter school reform this year was a cost reduction that you will see when I when we get to the charter school side of the expense ledger which is going to save us probably around $2 million. >> Oh, okay. So, >> because there is cyber there is cyber reform, but that was it's trickling in now and it'll be in full effect for 2627 and that will be in a in a cost savings, not a re not not a revenue. Not a revenue. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. So when you get
052down to the bottom line of this, you will bring in 88,611287 which is primarily the driving force is the ready tole learn the ready tolearn money that is driving that force. So we'll get to the federal revenue where there's some good news there. Uh title one money has jumped substantially from 3.2 million to 4.8 million. Title 2 money drove went from 409,000 to 537 927. Now before you think that Congress allocated more money to us, they did not. Our formula, the formula that they used changed a little bit because our numbers here in the district have changed and more so that other districts have dropped substantially and Central Dolphin did not drop as far. So um I will give credit to Dr. box and her team for finding ways to creatively use the extra title
053money, but also being um protective of the fact that we are not certain how long the title money that extra title money will be present um for the district to where it goes back down to the historical number of between 3.8 and 3.2 million. So that's kind of where it is right now. And so if you look at the other federal money that we have um at 301,000 for title 3 and 238 for title 4 as you notice there is no more ARP or ESRE monies here. The other thing I would like to draw your attention to is the access uh part. We recently signed an agreement with Mile 2 Consulting to start the access billing. We would not expect to see any increases or dramatic increases in access revenue until quarter 2 of this
054fiscal year. sort of be conservative in this in this budget. We like to keep it around this amount and then experience that to just ensure that we are conservative on this aspect in case if we hit any any uh struggles uh keep personnel or anything of that nature. So that's why it is at that at that particular uh sign at that particular level. Uh that brings the total revenue in federal sources to 6,396 396,259,000. All the federal revenue is offset by expenditures by expend that that is one of the requirements of federal revenue that has to be offset by an equal amount of expenditures on the opposite side of the ledger, >> but it's still a reduction of a million dollars over the last couple of years. >> Yeah, it's it's because of the there's
055no more money there, >> right? >> So, the district has uh has successfully gotten off the cliff um pretty successfully there. Um so, we'll look at the total revenue for 2627. Um there's the other source is there was a $2.5 million transfer from the internal revenue the internal or the forget what it's called here in the district the the internal service fund which is the fund that houses the healthcare expenses. I did not budget for a transfer. We can discuss that at later budget meetings if we were going to entertain that. Um we could talk about that. So I did not put any transfers in there. But if you look at the 2627 for total estimated revenue at 279,497472. If uh a 1.9% levy was enacted, the total revenue goes to 281662 234. If a
0562.9% levy was enacted, it goes to 282 801 583. And if a 3.9% levy was enacted, it goes to 283 940 931. Peter, what's the what's the act one index? >> 4.4%. >> 4.4. >> So, if you look at and then below this chart, it shows you what the millage rate is currently, which is 18.29. Um, it is one of the lowest in Dolphin County. And if you look at the millage rates, uh, the percentage millage rates here. And you look at the collection rate, which like I said was around 97%. It will show you at the last column the uh the amount of money that each gross because I know Mr. Jacobs had asked the increased amount of money that each levy would bring. Do you guys have any questions on that before I
057go to the next one? Okay. >> Just just looking at the the numbers that the second lowest is dairy but at over 20. So everybody else is at least over 20. Some people are much much higher than that. >> Is there anybody lower than us? >> No, I think Central Dolphins the lowest. Yes. >> Yeah. The Yeah, second is dairy and it's at 20.3387. So even at at the two point or the 3.9 it's still lower then >> so I mean we are disproportionately not dependent on state revenue like many districts I mean we're basically driven by local revenue >> correct >> so what is the percent that of our revenue that comes from local sources >> about 69%. Okay. >> Despite the fact that we are C school district as well. So I want
058to keep that in mind too. So all of our students, all of our we're district why qualify for free meals. Free and reduced lunches. I mean free free lunches, excuse me, not reduced free lunches. >> What's C? >> A community ele eligibility provision which which basically means that every student gets a free breakfast and a free lunch. >> It's driven largely by poverty levels. Yeah, it's driven exactly all by poverty levels and by direct certifi by direct certification. >> So that's very that's a critical um uh it's a critical uh thing to note because that means it's driven by uh if you need if people are on welfare. So it's not just driven by your free and reduced lunch application. So I will go let's look at this next slide where it shows the tax
059levy uh scenarios. Um, this is basically shows you um based some different scenarios. The median household uh is $120,000 in the district. And this will show you the dollar increase is per is a yearly increase. Um, so if a 1.9% uh or 1.9% tax levy is enacted, um, if you have a $500,000 home, your yearly bill will go up $173.79. If a 2.9% increase is enacted, it goes up 26525. And if you're 300 if a 3.9% uh tax increase is enacted, it goes up $356.72. If a me if you own a median home in the district, it goes up 4171 for the year at a 1.9% increase. And at 3.9% it goes up 8561. So that's that's for 12 months. Just a reminder that the assessed value is not the value they pay for their
060home. It's what the county assessed and they haven't been reassessed since 200. Correct. So that's three or two or something. >> That's not what you pay for. It's what the assessment is on your on your that's why 120,000 may not be what you pay. You may pay 400,000, but your assessment might be at 120. >> So that's a that's a critical thing. Do you guys have any questions? I will you guys have gotten a copy of this. I will put this presentation uh Mr. Ruth will help me get this on the district's website um when this presentation is over by tomorrow. >> Me too. >> Thank you, Peter. If you guys have any questions, uh it's my there's my email on the site and the next presentation will be debt service and another object code
061that I can't remember at this time. So, it'll be March 10th, 2026. >> Thank you. >> One thing that we also have to we have a revenue depletion formula that is imposed upon us for clean and green. So, we have several hundred properties throughout the uh school district and some are make sense, some don't. Correct. >> There's really no way to call that back. >> All right. Do you guys have any other questions for me? >> Oh, that's fabulous. >> Thank you, Peter. >> All right. Thank you. >> We appreciate it. >> Staying in information and proposals, moving to item 605, public speakers. This is the first of two opportunities for the public to address the board. The first of which is for agenda items only and we have no one signed up to speak.
062Moving to unfinished business. As we are uh started to do several meetings ago, uh we will be looking to do a consent agenda. We will be uh binding together items 701, 702, 703, 704 and 705 unless there is objection and vote them as a block. These items are uh on the second opportunity. They have been on the agenda for the for the second time and also several considered during committee meeting. So again 701 through 705 as a consent agenda. It'll be one motion, one vote for all five items. >> Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any questions or comments? And just for the public's uh notification, board members do have the opportunity to pull any item they wish out of the consent and discuss them, comment them,
063or vote up or down on any item, but we're taking them as a block 701 through 705. We have a motion in a second. Any questions? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Moving on to item 706, reimbursement resolution as prepared by MCNE law. Mr. Bard off guard, >> but hang on a second. >> Caught you off guard. >> I know I wasn't right. I thought Eric was reading this one because he got a bottle of water over there. The administration is recommending approval of the reimbursement resolution as prepared by Mcnes Salah. This item was discussed at the finance committee meeting on January 13, 2026. This item was reviewed at the February 10th, 2026 board meeting. >> May I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Is there
064a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Questions? We are going to do this as required by law by a roll call vote. Miss Fuller, we call the role, please. >> Mrs. Fingerman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kaboli, >> yes. >> Mr. Dornan, >> yes. >> Mr. Epstein, >> yes. >> Mr. Garlic. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gordon, >> yes. >> Mrs. Hanford, >> yes. >> Mr. Jacobs, >> yes. >> Mrs. Webster, >> yes. >> We have nine affirmative votes. >> Thank you. Moving on to new business. Item 8001, personnel report. Mr. Turman, >> the administration is recommending approval personnel report as discussed in executive session. >> May I have a motion to approve? So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >>
065Staying with new business. Item 8002, resolution to apply for the public school improvement grant. Mr. Chairman, the administration is recommending approval of the resolution to apply for the public school facility improvement grant. This grant would support the renovations at North Side Elementary School. Um, this is the public school facility improvement grant. Um, in it we are looking to apply for $5 million in grant funding. If we would make the decision to move forward with North Side Elementary School and awarded the grant, this would take $5 million out of the cost. Majority of it would go to any type of abatement or also any the HVAC system. >> Would it cover a new sign over there? >> I'm just saying. >> No, it's been a big issue. >> No. No. would not >> do you know
066what the turnaround time for us in learning if we've received this >> you could turn around time typically for this is about 3 to 6 months >> so we could learn about this as early as July August um but sometimes it takes probably anywhere from 3 to 6 months the only good thing with this one is it is up for two years so let's say you decided not to do north side the following year you wanted to wait a year we would still be eligible uh for the grant So, we have two years to make a decision on North Side. >> Motion. >> Other questions? >> May I have a motion to approve the recommendation? >> Motion. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor signify
067by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Staying in new business. Item 8003, addition of adjudications. So, we added uh you remember back on the modifications to the agenda, we added student adjudications number 1346 and 1347 officially to the agenda. So, Mr. Turman, >> the administration is recommending approval of the adjudication of student cases 1346 and 1347 as discussed in executive session. >> May I have a motion to approve? >> Some moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Questions? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I >> opposed. >> Item 8004, treasures report for month ending January 2026. Mr. Bart, >> the administr the administration is recommending approval of the treasures report for the month ending January 2026. This item will appear on the March 10th, 2026 board of meeting board
068meeting for approval. >> If you have any questions about the treasures report between now and then, please direct them to Mr. Bard. Item 8005, Central Dolphin School District summer sports camps. Mr. Turman, the administration is recommending approval of the following Central Dolphin School District support summer camps. These camps will be held at various district locations throughout the summer. This item will appear on the March 10th, 2026 board agenda for approval. CD boys basketball June 29th to July 2nd, 2026. Camp will be held at CD High School. The camp is limited to Central Dolphin School District students. Again, not a voting item. This will appear on the March 10th agenda. Moving to item 8006, public speakers for non-aggenda items. This is the second of two opportunities for the public to address the board on any item
069that they wish. And we have one individual signed up to speak, Mr. Jean Stil. Sir, you have five minutes. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. It's okay. You're fine. >> Thank you, Jean. >> Thank you so much. Um, thanks for these few minutes. I presented to you three times uh in the fall reasons why you had to fight the methodology that was presented to you by for mass evacuation in regard to the possible possible restarting of three mile unit one. No response or interaction from the board happened. In order to engage in an actual dialogue with you, I followed the public comment procedure under section 906 of your code. Submitting my complaint on January 5th, 2006. January 20th, I received the solicitor solicitors that are rejecting the request for a dialogue regard to my complaint.
070I filed an appeal against the rejection uh on February 13th and that was also rejected. Excuse me. It was rejected on February 13th. I understand the Central Dolphin School District, the board, the parents, the students, the teachers, the bus drivers, all the employees, the taxpayers are all caught in the chaos of the evacuation planning process. Basically, everybody's constellations victims. In any decision, there's a position that is favored by the majority that leads to the final communication that I received. Often times, there's a minority of thought on the question that is never expressed while the majority is responding. I have no idea if other board members have agreed with the original letter sent by the solicitor for the board or uh the second letter sent by the solicitor for the board. Call me naive and off
071I am but if there is a potential minority opinion or member of the board a member of a member or a number of minority opinions a number of minority opinions I'd like to hear about it. Please call or text me or email me if you know that you are not part of the majority that authorizes soldiers letter. I am very interested in your opinion, view view points. My numbers are below. It's always good to have the full expression of exactly what the individual board members are thinking and what they are basing their decisions on. Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on to item 8007, board representative reports. Are there any any board representative reports? Item 8008, board committee reports. Are there any? >> I just want to say that
072we did a reorg with some of our new members and uh we're hoping to have a schedule out till the end of the school year with all the committees. So, we hope to have that by the end of the week and we'll have those all posted for everybody publicly they can attend. >> Yeah, to echo Mr. Dorman's point, uh we hope to have a minimum of one committee meeting per committee each month starting in March through the end of June. Stay tuned. They um I think we're still trying to endeavor to find a way to tell commute do what we're doing now for the board. I don't know if that's act still active >> to allow the folks to join virtually for committee meetings. We have not I don't think that's been determined yet. >>
073So we have a budget meeting coming up on March 11th and you saw how spectacular Peter preh presented tonight. You don't want to miss that on March 11th. Listen, you can record it and it'll be your sleep. >> Any other board committee reports? >> Yeah, I don't want a nightmare. >> Justin, it's musical season and uh both high schools, uh all four middle schools and um at least one elementary school that I know of. I don't have the times and the dates in front of me, but uh they're on the website. >> Yeah. And you can check Facebook. Shannon, I was going to say social media putting making those announcements on Facebook. >> Yep. I think individual schools also do some social media posting as well. >> Mhm. >> Moving to item 8009, sympathy resolutions.
074Mr. Turman, sympathies are extended to the family of Barbara May Frederick, former secretary at CD East Middle School on her passing. Sympathies are extended to Gazella Mason, secretary at Sotera Middle School, on the passing of her husband, Michael Mason. and sympathies are extended to Cameron Fleck, volunteer cheer coach for CD's High School, and Tina McCarthy, secretary at CD High School, in the passing of their husband and son-in-law, Romeo Fleck. Romeo was a graduate of CD East High School. >> Item 901. May I have a motion to adjourn? >> Mr. uh President, uh just a couple points of order if it's okay. >> When we have a speaker come, when do we start? I mean because the last gentleman came and circulated paperwork and we g essentially we gave him additional time. I don't know if
075that's an issue >> but he was inside he was inside his five minutes >> but if he hadn't been I don't know >> I think we start the clock when they start talking. >> Okay. The other issue is his statement was not consistent with what he actually said. So what becomes part of the record? Just what was said tonight or the document that was handed to us? Just what was said? >> Was said. >> Yeah. I mean the the ending is not kind. Thank you. Item 901, motion to adjurnn. There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. >> Thank you. All those in favor? I meeting ajourned.