The Conewago Valley school board approved an Act 1 Index resolution and discussed a homeschool family’s request to gain district sponsorship for a music event during the board’s meeting on Monday evening.
The Act 1 Index resolution states the district will not attempt to exceed the inflation index set by the state. For 2026-27, the district’s index is 4.7%.
Board member April Swope indicated she will not consider voting for any budget that includes a tax increase. Early in the meeting, she said she wanted to see a budget with a 0% increase, but such a budget is already part of the presentation process.
Board president Jeffrey Kindschuh and superintendent Sharon Perry said that similar to last year, the board will view budget options including no increase, an increase up to the Act 1 Index, and smaller increases in between the two.
Perry said the board should consider the budget options and potential consequences before deciding.
“Last year when we were looking at the 0%, while we didn’t take a deep dive into where there would be potential cuts, we know it would be personnel or programs,” Perry said. “Those are the only two places at this point that we would be able to cut, for sure, unless we also would potentially not move forward with the staffing plan, which was originally a five-year plan that we’ve now extended out to 10 years. So there would have to be a pause on the staffing plan in addition to cuts.”
Perry said the district should ensure it can survive without drawing too heavily on its fund balance, referencing the long-delayed Pennsylvania budget as a reason to protect the district’s fund balance. Perry compared withdrawing too much fund balance to someone living off their savings account.
A vote to approve the Act 1 Index resolution – in which the district agrees not to exceed the 4.7% Act 1 Index if taxes are raised – was approved 7-1, with Swope voting against it.
Approving the Act 1 Index resolution does not mean taxes will be raised. The resolution is a commitment to not raise taxes beyond the index. As explained in the resolution, the index represents a hard limit for tax increases unless a further increase were “approved by voters in a referendum or the school district obtains from the Department of Education or a court of common pleas certain referendum exceptions,” which Conewago Valley is not seeking.
In the coming months, the board will discuss district needs and its current financial status, as well as review scenarios that include no tax increase and increases up to the limit. The board will vote on a preliminary budget in May 2026 and a final budget in June.
More detailed information on budget options will follow in the coming months.
The board approved an extracurricular contract for a head coach for Unified Sports as well as 13 volunteers.
Perry said Unified Sports is a “collaborative partnership” between track and field and special education students. While the district pays the initial expenses, it is reimbursed by Special Olympics.
“It’s an opportunity for our regular education students and special education students to work together and compete together,” Perry said.
During the time for public comment, several individuals spoke to ask that a homeschooled student in the district be granted sponsorship through Conewago Valley to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Orchestra Festival.
The 11th-grade student’s parents spoke to the board in October asking for the student to be allowed to participate. According to the parents, the student met PMEA requirements but a long-term agreement for the student’s participation was not reached with the school district. The student’s parents said they felt the terms for the student’s participation were changed and they were unable to meet the requirements.
During Monday’s meeting, the student’s parents spoke, as well as community members, saying they felt the board should revisit the matter. A family member also read comments from the student, who was at a rehearsal out of town.
Board members asked follow-up questions of the parents and Perry in order to gain clarity. Perry and Kindschuh also referenced a package that contained information about the situation, which the board had relied on for its initial decision.
Kindschuh said that the board had decided that the situation did not necessitate an update to board policies.
Perry declined to offer much information about the particulars of the case in open meeting as it involves private student matters.
The mother of the student said that while Nov. 15 is the first PMEA Orchestra Festival deadline, there is also a late deadline of Dec. 1 they could still make should the matter be resolved in their favor by then.
Following discussion, the board elected to go into closed session after the meeting in order to discuss student matters to further consider the family’s case.
Kindschuh had previously announced an executive session for personnel and student matters held prior to the meeting.
A reorganization meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1 in the district office.
Great job April Swope! What about us that have infants, who we KNOW THEY’LL BE GETTING HOMESCHOOLING!