With federal funding unfrozen and new staff on board, Upper Adams School District began its first day of the 2025-2026 school year on steady ground this week.
On July 1, President Donald Trump’s administration suspended more than $6 billion in education funding across the U.S., according to national news outlets. At Upper Adams, the district was temporarily cut off from approximately $95,000 in funds for critical programs, according to Assistant Superintendent Joe Albin.
At the time of the July 15 school board meeting, Upper Adams expected to move funds around in the budget to cover the gaps, Albin said.
A few weeks later, the Trump administration released billions in frozen funds across the U.S., in turn restoring funding to Upper Adams.
“Finally, we got confirmation from the department of federal programs at the Pennsylvania state level that Titles II, III, and IV are released,” Albin said at Tuesday’s school board meeting, the night before the first day of school.
Upper Adams uses the Title II, III, and IV funding to cover the cost of an additional kindergarten teacher, fund the English language learner program, support school safety projects, and fund career readiness software, according to Albin.
He said Upper Adams received about what it expected, with a difference between $100 and $500.
“It didn’t impact us greatly,” Albin said. “There were other school districts, I think, that received a greater impact.”
In other business, the Upper Adams Canner Funds has officially been granted its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, board member Kay Hollabaugh said. The approval came about four months earlier than expected, she said.
“We’re very, very excited about that,” Hollabaugh said.
Through community donations, the Canner Funds support grants for classroom activities, a student scholarship, school building grants, Color Day events, an annual teacher breakfast, refreshments for graduates, and some transportation expenses. As a nonprofit and educational foundation, the organization hopes it will be able to raise even more funds.
The school board paid legal fees associated with the Canner Funds’ effort to become a nonprofit.
After summer break, school began Wednesday, with 16 new teachers and staff across Upper Adams School District:
Gabrielle Barnes – Third Grade Teacher – Biglerville Elementary School
Vincent Bove – Mathematics Teacher – Upper Adams Middle School
Steve Bravo Tomaylla – Spanish Teacher – Biglerville High School / Upper Adams Middle School
Tyrone Burson – English Teacher – Upper Adams Middle School
Thomas Eby – Technology Education – Biglerville High School / Upper Adams Middle School
Kayla Esquivel – Second Grade Teacher – Biglerville Elementary School
Lydia Garfinkle – Special Education Teacher – Upper Adams Intermediate School
Grace Green – Life Skills Support – Biglerville Elementary School
Anna Jowanowitch – English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher – Upper Adams Intermediate School
Abigail Krstanovic – School Counselor – Biglerville Elementary School
Julianna Roman – French Teacher – Biglerville High School
Maggie Rutkowski – Speech & Language Pathologist – Biglerville High School / Upper Adams Middle School
Ashlee Saunders – School Counselor – Upper Adams Intermediate School
Emili Scavitto – Speech & Language Pathologist – Upper Adams Intermediate School
Summer Slusser – English Teacher – Biglerville High School
Erica Werntz – Art Teacher – Biglerville High School / Upper Adams Middle School
The new crop of staff also includes School Security Officer Brent Hays, of G-Force Security Solutions.
Albin wrote in an email that they hope to hire another sixth-grade teacher as well.
The school board curriculum and extra-curricular committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, followed by the business and operations committee meeting. The policy committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Sept.4.
The next regular board meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 16. The board is expected to discuss Policy 109, regarding rules around classroom materials.
Mary Grace Kauffman, freelance reporter, worked six years as a full-time reporter for newspapers in Pennsylvania and Maryland. She has covered topics including business, crime, education, government and features. Mary Grace has a bachelor's degree in communication/journalism from Shippensburg University. She resides in Adams County.