At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board committee meetings April 11, Whitehall-Coplay School District Business Manager Michael Malay Jr. gave an overview of the proposed final budget.

A school property tax increase of 3.86 percent is possible, with the use of $4 million of the fund balance, he said.

The 2022-23 Act 1 Budget Tax Index includes a base index of 3.4 percent and WCSD adjusted index of 3.4 percent. The board previously passed a resolution to stay below the index.

The Act 1 budget timeline for the 2022-23 school year includes adopting the proposed final budget at the WCSB April 25 meeting, the presentation of the final budget at the May 9 finance committee meeting and the adoption of the final budget at a special board meeting set for June 13.

Malay discussed increases in revenue for the district, such as gains from real estate taxes and earned income taxes.

Some expenditure increases include an additional $382,000 for WCSD cyber school, $90,000 for hiring behavioral specialists and a 12-percent increase in health benefits.

“We have about a $5.8 million gap. Over the next month, we’ll be looking at expenses and revenue, readjusting and looking at the use of fund balance and proposing a tax increase,” Malay said.

Dr. Barbara Chomik, WCSD director of curriculum and instruction, presented four new textbooks to the board.

First, Chomik discussed “Algebra I,” by Savvas Publishing, which will be used for Whitehall-Coplay Middle School and Whitehall High School students. There are 445 books needed, at the cost of $166 per student edition, with eight-year digital courseware and shipping and handling.

The total cost is $73,870 and will be paid for using the curriculum budget. The vendor is including $5,300 worth of free resources.

According to Chomik, “Algebra I” is replacing the current eight-year-old book and is more “rigorous.”

“With Algebra I being a foundational course for all future courses at the high school, this is very important, and hopefully, it will give the kids a solid foundation going into the upper-level math courses, as well as performing on the PSSAs,” Chomik said.

Chomik introduced the companion book, “Algebra II,” also by Savvas Publishing, for WHS students. There are 275 books needed, at the cost of $166 per student edition, with eight-year digital courseware and shipping and handling. The total cost is $45,650 and will be paid for using the curriculum budget. The vendor is providing $3,800 in free resources.

Next, Chomik presented “Biology,” by Savvas Publishing, for WHS students. Chomik said it is written by well-known biology authors Kenneth Miller and Joseph Levine, replacing the old book by the same authors.

There are 250 books needed at the cost of $164 per student edition, with eight-year digital courseware and shipping and handling. The books will cost a total of $47,285 and will be paid for using the curriculum budget.

Chomik described the book as more interactive and listed features including “problem-solving-based learning, case study analysis, performance-based assessments, emphasis on science literacy and quick labs to enhance the interaction of biology.”

Chomik added the included online resources are beneficial as well.

The final book is for WHS AP Statistics classes - because the college board changed the required book, and AP classes are required to adopt the newest version.

“The Practice of Statistics, 6th Edition,” by Bedford, Freeman and Worth, will cost $196.96 per student edition, with six-year digital courseware and shipping and handling. There are 65 books needed, and the total cost is $13,374.27, which will be paid for with the Ready to Learn Grant.

Next, Curriculum Supervisor of ELA and Humanities Melissa Arifaj stated the World Language Department is recommending offering AP Spanish to students to “remain competitive with other schools in the Lehigh Valley.”

Arifaj’s goal is to offer Honors Accelerated Spanish, which would incorporate levels 1 and 2 into one class. The new Spanish textbook has some students further ahead than students who are using the old Spanish 2 textbook. By offering Honors Accelerated Spanish, students would be able to reach the AP level when they are seniors.

Spanish 3 and German 3 would become Honors Spanish 3 and Honors German 3.

The 2023-24 school year will be the first year for freshmen Honors Accelerated Spanish, sophomore Honors Spanish 3, juniors Honors Spanish 4 and seniors AP Spanish.

The 2026-27 school year would be the first year seniors could take AP Spanish.

Spanish will be the first language to test this route, and if it works and enrollment in German is high enough, the same may follow for the German language program.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. April 25.