The Salisbury Township school board held a regular school board meeting Dec. 6 following a reorganization meeting where Joseph Gaither was seated as its newest board member.

The meeting commenced with Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickischer’s treasurer’s report concerning Act I Index rates for the next four years. The Act I Index is the maximum rate a district can increase millages each year without putting the tax increase to a voter referendum. This percentage is recalculated yearly and is based on the Pennsylvania statewide average wage increase and the federal employment cost index.

Nickischer reported the Act I Index is trending downward from the current rate of 5.3%. According to the Independent Fiscal Office of the State, districts will likely see a decrease in the Act I Index in the 2025-2026 budget year to a rate of 4%. A consistent reduction in the rates is forecasted until the 2028-2029 school year which will see rates bottom out at 3.1%.

She cautioned the board to keep this trend in mind when considering long range projects and future budgets noting the district’s ability to raise local revenue will be drastically decreased.

The curriculum and technology committee brought several items to the board for approval.

The board approved three Moravian University student teachers and their mentors for the spring semester. Carly Buccigrossi will work with Vicky Evener in transitional learning support, Meghan Colton will join Mary Beth Bedics in first grade and Julia Luisser will be mentored by fourth grade teacher Shannon Stokes.

The board also gave its approval for both an overnight trip for wrestlers to participate in a December wrestling tournament and an agreement with Barbara Blanc for a bilingual independent educational evaluation for a Salisbury student.

The operations committee received approval to close the Class of 2023 student activity fund, the softball student activity fund and establish the Salisbury High School Bocce student activity fund.

The district’s health and safety plan was approved with no recommended changes.

During the finance committee portion of the meeting the board approved a $4.7 million general obligation bond to fund both the Salisbury Middle School roof project and the Salisbury Elementary School water mitigation project. This amount includes the bond itself and the additional contingency costs associated with the capital projects.

Additionally, a reimbursement resolution was approved which allows the board to borrow from the general fund and reimburse the fund once the debt has been issued.

The personnel committee included several staff updates.

Justin Tice was approved to serve the district as assistant principal at Salisbury High School effective Jan. 31, 2024. Tice replaces outgoing Assistant Principal Ryan Yurchick.

The board also approved a per diem rate of $55.45 as needed for Supervisor of Special Education Michael Vacaro for additional duties Dec. 5 through April 15, 2024.

The board accepted the resignation of boys head varsity soccer coach Mark Allinson and approved the employment of Kevin DiZenzo as SHS head football coach.

Sarah Nemitz and Laura McKelvey, who sit on the boards of Lehigh Career and Technical Institute and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 respectively, report both boards are currently working on their budgets which will determine how much Salisbury Township School District will pay for services. Due to Salisbury’s small size, an anticipated fluctuation in cost over last year should be nominal.

Rebecca Glenister who serves on the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Legislative Council reports school vouchers are being discussed as Gov. Josh Shapiro works on the 2024-2025 state budget to establish budgetary priorities.

“This is a pivotal moment in the advocacy for student vouchers because every public dollar that is spent on tuition at charter or private schools leaves less money in the state budget to fully fund public schools,” Glenister said.

She also noted there have been reported instances of discriminatory practices at charter or religious schools who can deny enrollment to students with special needs. Public schools educate all students regardless of their anticipated needs.

Nemitz said Education Voters PA recently released a report that examines the discriminatory practices of voucher schools.

Glenister also cited a report stating eight of 13 cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania had graduation rates that were more than 20% below the statewide average. She encouraged taxpayers to speak with their legislators as $1 billion in state monies support these schools.

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Pauling added there is currently a Basic Education Funding Commission comprised of members of the senate, house and the governor’s administration focused on reviewing the distribution of state funding for basic education in the 500 Pennsylvania school districts.

Pauling and district Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten recently participated in panel discussions with the committee and they recommended contacting the governor’s office to voice concerns over access and equity in school funding before the committee releases their report in January 2024.

The next regular school board meeting will immediately follow the 7 p.m. curriculum and technology meeting Jan. 24, 2024. All meetings take place in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.