05/08/2026
May 4th meeting notes
Proposed property tax increase of 3.47%, to 24.75 mills, the maximum allowable amount without special request from the state. Board voted to approve preliminary budget, but noted this is not a final vote- just a requirement to say that this is the likely plan, but can change. Final vote at the June meeting. Mr. Vasko said he won’t vote for it as it stands.
Of note for the budget:
Consumables are up 17K from 160k to 177k. This accounts for increases in supplies for janitorial supplies, pool supplies, medical, athletics and industrial arts. Decreases noted for art supplies, paper supplies, and science supplies.
Athletics budget up over 5%, to fund the 2 new girls sports, and also new uniforms for baseball, softball, tennis and volleyball.
Technology budget increase of over 5%, the district financed many upgrades to staff and student devices and between 2024-29, and will pay over $66,000 in interest during that time.
Health insurance for teachers via the county consortium is up over 8%. Beattie funding decreased from prior years. Special education costs increasing over 9%. Utilities budget up 29% due to expiring contracts that had locked in previously lower rates. Salaries increasing 1.92% on average, this reflects retirements that are not being replaced, and moving substitute teacher payments to contracted services.
Includes $200,000 towards safety and security enhancements.
Final budget link
https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/hamp/Board.nsf/files/DTLMDW5ACC4C/$file/2026-27%20Proposed%20Final%20Budget%20-%20May-4-2026.pdf
Mr. Gavlik requested approval to move girls flag football and girls wrestling from club sports to be formally adopted and funded by the district. Many questions asked about costs, cost per student for each sport, revenue brought in, and if there were existing funded sports that don’t have much participation that could be dialed down to a club sport or removed entirely. The discussion snowballed quite a bit, and general upkeep on existing athletic facilities was questioned. The turf field is at the end of its warranty, originally costing a half million dollars. Mr. Vasko noted that they don’t often discuss timelines, that they just find out things are needed and have to come up with the money or borrow it. He suggested they consider more advance planning for funding larger projects- saving for what they want/need. It was also mentioned that they’ve never really audited the athletic budget as closely as other areas. Mrs. Hamlin mentioned how many of the things coming up now were to be addressed in phase 2 HS renovations (fieldhouse upgrades, softball field, etc), but they’re unable to borrow money for that phase based on the current financial situation.
Revision of school calendar- moved a professional development day from April to Easter Monday, March 29th. Thanks are given when thanks are due- thank you to the board for hearing the teachers’ and the parents input on this. Mrs. Perkins reminded everyone that the week spring break isn’t necessarily supported by the board, but the timing of Easter in 2027 worked out. They remain nervous that students would potentially have to “settle in” quickly after a later Easter before PSSAs (our note: North Allegheny came back from their spring break this year with only one week of school before PSSAs, maybe we compare our results and theirs to see if kids truly were affected by having a week off in April before testing?).
Discussion of continuing the elementary instructional coach. Position was funded by grants last year and tasked with helping integrate portrait of a talbot competencies (empathy, collaboration, etc) into classrooms. Teachers can request help, or the coach can request to meet with the teacher. Elementary teachers were surveyed on their feedback from this role, and most liked it and felt it was helpful and effective. *Public commenter noted she is a teacher who is paid a stipend to take on a role such as this, rather than a completely separate funded optional position* Generally public opinion seems to think this is more of a want than a need, when our district is in a poor financial position.
