Superintendent Christopher Bigger gave the Littlestown residents a parting gift at Monday’s board meeting, predicting a 1 to 1.5 percent tax rate in the next three to five years. “We feel really good about that,” he said.
The Littlestown Area School District taxes have averaged 2.25 percent over the past four years, in part to fund the current construction project, combining middle and high schools.
“Now the project’s up and running. We had the millage in place before the project, and now we won’t need it.” He added that the only addition to the tax rate would be the result of an economic crash or some other crisis.
Bigger, who has been the head of the district for the past eight years, will be leaving LASD at the end of November to accept a job as Superintendent of Chambersburg area schools.
Board president Dolores Nester said the process of selecting a new superintendent is underway. The board is currently seeking an interim superintendent to serve into the new year. “This is not a good time to be looking for a superintendent,” she said, but added the board is actively seeking resumes to see who is out there. How long the interim superintendent will serve and other hiring matters will be “hashed out in executive sessions,” she said.
“We just want the community to know we’re working on it,” commented board member Yancy Unger.
As the board formally accepted Bigger’s resignation, Nester said, “The leadership that you provided is unquestionably some of the best in the area. Thank you.” While she saying she was sad he is leaving, Nester said she wanted to focus on all the positive things accomplished with Bigger in the pilot seat.
“One of the biggest things was engaging our staff to make sure that we have a trust between the administration, the board, and the staff. That was imperative,” she said. Nester praised Bigger for improving the academics in the schools to the point where people want to move into the area.
Thanking the board president for her comments, Bigger said, “You guys stuck to your promise to stay together as a team, and you did. You honored that promise. You functioned as a group, and that’s all any superintendent can ask. As long as you’re functioning as a group, our job’s a lot easier.”
In other board business, Nestor reported that staff shortages are still a problem, according to Lincoln Intermediate Unit. “Thirty resignations were accepted last month in the LIU, and they have appointed only six to professional and 14 to support positions, so they are definitely in need of people,” she said. Nestor is the current board president of the LIU, which provides educational services to Adams, Franklin, and York County schools.
Unger reported that the Adams County Technical Institute is working to incorporate itself and seeking funding solutions to assist with the creation of a new facility. The board appointed one of its members, Carl Thompson, to serve on the ACTI institute authority. ACTI provides hands-on career and technical education to juniors and seniors in allied health, building trades, computer networking, criminal justice, culinary arts, diesel technology, and early learning.
In the Superintendent’s report, Bigger noted that enrollment continues to decline in LASD, with 34 fewer students this year. Those interested in the construction at the new middle/high school building will soon be able to view live action at the site when the district sets up its live stream camera, which will move as the construction sites move.
Four board policies were approved with no change: policy 313, evaluation of employees; 317, conduct/disciplinary procedures; 317.1, educator misconduct; and 918, Title 1 parent and family engagement. Board policies can be accessed through the LASD website.
Judith Cameron Seniura is a freelance reporter. She began her journalism career in the early ‘70s and has written for newspapers, magazines, and other media in Ontario, Canada, Alaska, Michigan, Nebraska, San Antonio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.