Lancaster Countyâs three poorest schools are set to get an extra boost in the 2021-22 state budget to prop up low-income districts following the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a more than $6.5 billion investment in K-12 education.
The Ephrata Area School District, Columbia School District and School District of Lancaster are among the stateâs 100 poorest school districts slated to receive a piece of a $100 million âLevel Upâ supplement using federal COVID-19 relief dollars.Â
In addition to this increase, all county districts will each receive an increase as part of a $200 million increase in education spending. This is nowhere near the $1 billion Gov. Tom Wolf pitched in his February 2021-22 budget proposal, though House Republicans say they have received Wolfâs agreement on the full budget package.
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, June 8.
What happened: Council members plan to deny a donation request from the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce by not putting the matter on any agenda. Jeanne Cooper, the chamberâs president, virtually asked council for money to operate. She also is asking Wrightsville and Marietta for contributions.
Quotable: âWe are not going to fund the chamber,â council President Heather Zink said after the meeting. âArea businesses need to support the chamber.â State guidelines say which organizations may receive money from Columbia, and chambers of commerce arenât on the list, Zink explained.
Bridge Bust busted: The chamber may have to cancel its annual Bridge Bust festival Oct. 2 and file for bankruptcy, Cooper said. The pandemic forced the chamber to cancel all of its 2020-21 activities, leaving the organization with no money. It seeks between $45,000-$47,000 in operating expenses until it can sell its headqu
When: Columbia Borough School District board meeting, May 6.
What happened: The board adopted a $27.57 million proposed general fund budget for the 2021-22 school year with no tax increase.
Overview: The school districtâs real estate tax rate is set at 26.46 mills. Taxpayers with an average assessed property would pay $2,470. Overall, the district projects revenues of $26.69 million, up 2.29% from 2020-21, and predicts $27.57 million in expenses, up 1.59% from the current year. District reserves would be used to cover an estimated $878,982 deficit between revenues and expenses.
Expenses: The $432,782 rise in expenses is attributed to a $420,000 increase in cybercharter tuition. The district will reserve $1.5 million for charter school services and $315,000 for tuition to River Rock Academy, same as the current year. The district will also add a new assistant to the superintendent, salaried at $110,000; technology support specialist, $35,000; autistic support teacher, $55,000;
When: Columbia Borough School District board meeting, April 6.
What happened: The school district has more than $8 million in its collective fund balance that can be used to cover capital projects, health care costs and minimize annual tax increases into the foreseeable future.
Background: Since the 2016-17 school year, the district has experienced a $4.75 million increase in total reserves. The district entered 2020-21 with $2.1 million in general funds assigned to offset increases in pension costs and future budget deficits, $1.72 million in capital reserve funds to spend on essential capital improvements at its academic buildings, $2.82 million in health insurance funds to cover employee health care expenses, and an additional $2.2 million in unassigned funds. These figures do not include federal aid from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grants received during the current school year.
Pa lawmakers ought to implement the school fair funding formula fully before the court requires them to do so [editorial] lancasteronline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancasteronline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.