Spring Cove Reviews 2024-25 Approved State Budget

Spring Cove School District Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker reviewed what the 2024-25 approved state budget would mean to the district during her report at the board of directors regular meeting. There was an increase of $140,375 (or 1.6%) in their Basic Education Funding. Dr. Baker stated given inflation, unfunded mandates, the increase is still overall a setback and translates to less state support for the district and a need to rely on local effort to maintain status quo. She said in comparison, their basic educational funding in the last two school years were $395,781 and $246,586.

The Ready to Learn Block Grant increased $461,114 as part of the adequacy adjustment stemming from the PA Supreme Court ruling on school funding. This is the first increase since the 2015-16 school year. This additional funding will now cover the cost of all six kindergarten teachers’ salaries and benefits and potentially a couple of other positions.

Special Education funding from the state increased $81,048 Dr. Baker said, “Although this increase is nowhere near adequate to put a dent in all of our special education expenditures, this is, at least, a greater increase than we have seen in recent years.”

She described their cyber charter reimbursement of $77,963 as a huge disappointment as it does not actually address the flawed cyber charter funding formula and the School Physical Safety and Mental Health Grant of $130,235 is $26,003 less than received last year. The Public School Facility Improvement grant is an inaugural grant which has received far more applicants than they can possibly fund. The district has been advised that lobbying local legislators will be the best means of potentially receiving these grants in the future.

Baker announced that she was pleased that all of the open teaching and cafeteria vacancies are now filled. Jennifer Long was hired at a salary of $52,408 as a first-grade teacher at Spring Cove Elementary, and Ashley Smith was hired at an identical salary as a health and physical education teacher at Martinsburg and Spring Cove Elementary Schools. Rachel Wagner was hired as Head Musical Director at a stipend of $2,652 and Ashley Smith was approved as junior high girls’ volleyball assistant coach for the 2024/25 school year with a salary of $1,789. The resignations of English teacher Grace Monroe and paraprofessional Kaitlyn Dick were accepted by the board. The new Math Nation program was presented by Mr. Jerry Albright. It is completely paid for by the Pa. Dept. of Education. This mobile math and science grant provides supplemental support for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II utilizing workbooks, videos, digital practice, and additional teacher resources. The board unanimously approved the program.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 12 at 7:00p.m. at the administration office board room.