The Gettysburg Area School District Board of Directors continues to examine how much of a tax increase is appropriate.
After about an hour of discussion during Monday’s meeting, the board directed Business Manager Belinda Wallen to return on June 2 with two proposals–one showing a 1.5% increase and another showing a 1% increase.
The board has expressed interest in continuing to raise taxes 1% each year to save money for a proposed future expansion of Adams County Technical Institute, a practice they began last year. The necessity of the other 0.5% is where opinions differ.
Wallen said 0.5% equates to about $188,000. Board President Kenny Hassinger and member Jeremy Davis said they would prefer that funding certain aspects of the budget be delayed until the annual audit shows if they realized a budget surplus the previous year. Hassinger said the board is open to suggestions about what areas of the budget they should delay funding, as long as the proposal does not affect students.
Board member Al Moyer said he fears a 1% tax increase will lead to future deficits.
“I am a little nervous about punting this down the road and taking off that half percent,” he said.
The board will discuss the budget further on June 2. Final adoption is expected to occur on June 16.
Gettysburg Area Education Foundation
Davis questioned the value of donating $25,000 annually to the Gettysburg Area Education Foundation. Wallen said the board has funded the organization’s executive director since the 2016-17 school year. Since a board directive initially funded the donation, Wallen asked that a board directive terminate it.
Davis said he was not opposed to the foundation’s existence, but questioned the district’s rate of return on their investment.
“From a business sense, that doesn’t make sense to me, nor should it to taxpayers,” he said. “I think it needs to sustain itself.”
During a presentation in April, GAEF Executive Director Todd Orner said the organization raises money through two established endowments, the Adams County Giving Spree and donations to Community Aid.
According to online records, the GAEF raised $4,270 through the Giving Spree in 2024. In the 2024-25 school year, the foundation awarded $6,260 in grants, Orner said. The foundation also manages an account on an online giving platform called Givebutter that other groups in the district use.
The foundation is governed by a board of six trustees, three of whom are the district superintendent, a board member, and an alumni association representative. Orner said the board can have up to 25 members per its bylaws.
New Assistant Superintendent
The board unanimously approved hiring Dr. Matthew McFarland as the district’s new assistant superintendent, effective July 1. He will succeed Dr. Jeffrey Matzner, who will become the new superintendent on the same day. The moves were necessitated by the pending departure of Superintendent Dr. Jason Perrin.
McFarland joined the district as Lincoln Elementary School principal in 2017 after teaching second grade at Conewago Township Elementary School in the Conewago Valley School District for 10 years.
“Dr. McFarland has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to our students and staff,” Board President Kenny Hassinger said. “His leadership experience, deep understanding of curriculum and instruction, and commitment to student success make him a great fit for the position of assistant superintendent. We’re confident he will do outstanding work in this new role.”
McFarland will be paid $140,000, according to the meeting’s agenda.
Featured image caption: Gettysburg Area School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Matzner presented the Superintendent Award to Franklin Township Elementary second grader Ellis Rice for his chalk pastels piece entitled “Lamborghini Time.” (Photo Courtesy of GASD)
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.