On June 3, the Salisbury Township School Board held its monthly meeting virtually via Zoom discussing primarily financial matters for the district.

First, Michael Taylor, board secretary, reviewed the annual paid lunch equity process. He explained this calculation is required as Salisbury receives money for the free and reduced price lunch programs. To remain eligible for the federal program, the lunch price for elementary schools in the district will need to be raised by 5 cents to $2.85 at the elementary level and to $3.15 in the middle and high school. A price increase of about 5 to 10 cents each year is typical.

After going through several revisions since the outset of the process, the final budget for the 2020-2021 school year was presented to the school board and community in attendance. Taylor detailed the expenditure changes that helped the board arrive at a balanced budget, expected to be approved June 22.

The balanced budget comes at a cost, namely by factoring in the proposed grade reconfiguration in combination with significant staffing downgrades in district schools. Taylor outlined the changes as including the furloughs of three full-time and part-time staff members, as well as the demotion of seven full-time staff members to part-time positions.

Additional cuts to staffing costs will be made by allowing some retirement-related vacancies to remain open.

In the proposed balanced version of the final budget, there will be substantial support staff reductions, including the furlough of one full- time and three part-time staff members and the demotion of three full-time support employees to part-time positions. Furthermore, custodial and maintenance staff will incur a 12.5 percent salary reduction and support staff members and administrative employees for the district will accept a salary freeze. Administrative staff will also see an overall salary reduction of $150,000 for the upcoming year.

Also contributing to the balanced budget is an increased tax millage rate of 1.0388. Passed to property owners in the township at an average amount of $183.24, this adjustment to the long-embattled budget brings the balanced amount for 2020-2021 to a total of $38,181,493.

Without reconfiguration or the tax rate increase, the district would be handed a budget with a nearly $2 million deficit for the upcoming school year. Board member Sarah Nemitz inquired as to whether the balanced budget number accounted for costs associated with a potential reconfiguration such as moving or additional furniture and Taylor replied that yes, those amounts had been put into play, still allowing for a proposed balanced budget.

The policy reading by Director Audrey Frick included an update for school attendance policy in accordance with state mandate, that the compulsory age for school attendance will be adjusted from 8-17 years of age to 6-18 years old.

The meeting allowed time for public comment, at which time several community members spoke out in defense of program and staffing cuts, while others pleaded with the board to consider keeping Western Salisbury Elementary School open in the upcoming school year. The board did not respond to community comments at this time.

The next operations committee meeting will be held Aug. 5. It was not indicated if the meeting would be held virtually, or in person, for the first time since the early spring.