By Imari Scarbrough
The Bermudian Springs school board filled two vacant board positions during its meeting on Tuesday evening but announced another position has opened.
The board accepted a resignation from former treasurer Ruth Griffie effective Jan. 13. The board packet included a resignation letter from Griffie, which did not provide details about the reason for her departure.
Griffie represented Region 2, which includes Huntington Township and York Springs Borough.
The board is accepting applicants from those municipalities.
Candidates can apply to fill the vacant board position until Jan. 30. Information on applying is available on the district’s website.
The selected candidate will fill Griffie’s position through its expiration in November 2027.
Two new board members were selected following public interviews on Tuesday.
The board heard from one candidate for Region 2 and five candidates from Region 3.
Chad Klinedinst, the sole applicant for Region 2, was interviewed and voted to the board unanimously. His term will expire in 2027.
Rachel Gray was selected from five interviewees for Region 3. Multiple board members cited her experience on the CIRA committee as proof of her experience and dedication when voting for her. Gray’s term will expire in 2029.
Dr. Brad Sterner, superintendent of the district, thanked all of the candidates for applying and encouraged them to find other roles in the district.
“It was very, very important to me and endearing to me to see how many people were interested,” Sterner said. “What I appreciated the most about the candidates that came to us this evening was how you all commended the work that our current board is doing. This is not an easy job, it is not a paid position. It is a ton of hours outside of a typical workday for everybody.”
Audit and budget
Business manager Justin Peart presented the final results from the 2024-25 school year audit.
Peart last previewed the audit results for the board in October, when he told the board $109,595 would likely be added to the fund balance.
On Tuesday, Peart said the results remained the same at the conclusion of the audit.
“Back in June of 2025, which was the last time before you approved the 25-26 budget, the estimate that I gave you that we were going to be adding to the fund balance was the $87,184,” Peart said. “That actual number in the final audit is $190,595, and that’s the number I provided you in October. This is a result of all administrators throughout all buildings and directors closely monitoring the expenses as well as our EIT funding, earned income tax funding, coming in ahead of what the estimates were.”
Peart also provided budget highlights for the 2026-27 school year.
The board will vote on a final budget in June and is only just now engaging in deeper discussions about what it will look like.
Peart reminded the board that the district has the option to go with no tax increase or any increase up to the adjusted Act One Index of 4.7%. His presentation included a look at how much revenue the district would make or lose at different tax increases, starting at no increase and going up to the index.
Peart said that without a final budget from the state, the numbers he is using for state funding are from last year’s budget until more details are available. Peart also warned that some areas, such as placements for regular education and special education students as well as the district’s electricity bills, are likely to rise, with electricity expenses going up almost 15%. Insurance will also likely rise.
Fuel costs are locked in for the year at a lower rate than last year.
Peart said some local revenue will likely decline while funding from earned income tax will likely increase.
“Our goal is to work together and provide a final budget in June that is great for students, staff, taxpayers and the community, and that’s ultimately what we will do because we’re all committed to that,” Peart said.
Safety concerns
Lorenzo DeVita, the president of the York Springs borough council, brought up safety concerns during the time for public comment.
“We’ve had cars passing school buses when they’re stopped with their signs out, and I think that the safety for the students, it should be of paramount importance for the district,” DeVita said. “Unfortunately, we have reached out to the state police; we don’t have a police force of our own in the borough. The state police haven’t really given us much of an answer.”
DeVita said the borough is considering moving a digital speed sign and purchasing a second one, but requested the school board reach out with other ideas for handling the issue.
2026-27 draft calendar
Dr. Shannon Myers, assistant superintendent for the district, presented the board with a draft copy of the 2026-27 school calendar.
Myers said the calendar includes a shift from the 180 day requirement to the 990 hours one, saying the change will allow for more flexibility for the district.
Myers said the most significant change will be moving spring conferences ahead of Easter break.
A two-week Christmas break is also included in the draft calendar.
Myers said she hopes the board will approve the calendar in February.
Prior to holding the open meeting on Tuesday, the board held an executive session for legal and personnel discussions.
The board will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the middle school’s Learning Commons A.
Imari Scarbrough is a freelance journalist.
