[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6541774,"mediaKeyId","5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b","parentId",5886767,"title","Berwick Area SD board hears budget update, cafeteria fund spend-down plan discussed","audioSeconds",833,"startMs",74000,"endMs",907000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b&start=74&end=907","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b/thumbnail_74000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541774/Pennsylvania/Berwick-Area-SD-board-hears-budget-update-cafeteria-fund-spend-down-plan-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541774-c72155bf72f6748e498c8b7ba4d2434e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452952&Signature=k29GgggXDpMwnHFaP2P6OdRzPK8P1O6ur3qRjfizOLcXGk6Fu1weYU5QoWr-mx5mLZVkzDQBZGBjYuKeaW4lmAbVZuV9ni2hXSIS3dAuhbdaDqutW5FSo8Cj3GoE2frmmtqgMtGmZZOIPXR-nFYKUwzblcDwlxCPRw3~HxVuMrVgd4v3fuqWCBkH1-tf5K4mq2WVLM1AYF8-7~JalUVXlgU59psoO9wFAj8C7TthlDngivXsqPuSszpdgeiStTWXcENmKNJX4htNq~jUKDSlgjuML9Z2gtwyhC7il7n74RLhJo3OagH4-RKn4Nxln88BbxAiwWF05RdmyIZG3UN8bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Berwick Area School District","date","2025-10-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Berwick Area School District on Tuesday heard a standing budget committee report that said the district can continue operations for at least the next two to three months while Pennsylvania works to pass a state budget.

The superintendent’s report to the board said two tax appeals remain active: a Moxie Freedom tax appeal scheduled for court in January 2026 and an ongoing appeal involving Burwick Hospital that is under negotiation. District year-to-date expenditures through Sept. 30 were reported at 5.88% compared with 11.93% at the same point last year.

The report flagged rising outside-education costs. According to the presentation, cyber-charter rates and special-education costs have increased; the staff cited increases in non-special-education cyber charter rates from $12,051 to $13,648 and a rise in certain special-education line items (figures reported by staff were unclear in places and are noted below).

The superintendent also told the board the district’s cafeteria operation has accumulated a balance the administration described in the meeting as $2,100,000,000 and said auditors require a formal spend-down plan. The superintendent said funds in the school nutrition account may only be used for cafeteria-related purposes and proposed working with stakeholders and the nutrition vendor to develop a legally allowable spend-down plan. The administration suggested replacing cafeteria equipment, reconfiguring high-school dining with booths and other dining improvements, and said it will return with floor plans and a formal plan for board consideration.

The superintendent also reported a Degenstein grant award in excess of $85,000 to buy two advanced resuscitation mannequins for the district’s sports medicine/medical-science program; the grant award will be placed on next month’s agenda for formal acceptance.

Why it matters: rising charter and special-education costs plus unresolved tax appeals could affect future budget choices; auditors’ requirement to spend down a large school nutrition fund will require board decisions about allowable capital or equipment uses.

The board asked for further documentation and pledged to review a detailed spend-down plan when staff returns with options and cost estimates. The superintendent said he would work with stakeholders to draft the plan and that state auditors will expect the district to demonstrate legitimate cafeteria-related expenditures.

Clarifying details provided at the meeting included the district’s year-to-date expenditure percent (5.88%) and the previous-year comparison (11.93%). The Moxie Freedom tax appeal was described as going to court in January 2026; Burwick Hospital’s appeal remains in negotiation. Several dollar figures mentioned by staff (including the cafeteria balance and some special-education numbers) were stated in the meeting transcript; staff said they will provide documentation when the spend-down plan returns to the board.

The board took no formal vote on changes to the budget at Tuesday’s meeting; staff said they will bring specific proposals, cost estimates and required documentation to a future board agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Berwick Area School District Regular Board Meeting 10/6/2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff reported near-term fiscal stability, two ongoing tax appeals and rising charter and special-education costs; administrators said the district must create a spend-down plan for a large cafeteria fund balance and will bring proposals back to the board.","taxTitle","Berwick Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",49344,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6541760,"Board reviews athletic-facility options; staff to pursue architects and USTA grant if board agrees",95,1069000,1164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b&start=1069&end=1164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","/articles/6541760/Pennsylvania/Board-reviews-athletic-facility-options-staff-to-pursue-architects-and-USTA-grant-if-board-agrees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541760-410d616e7ac9b80dbffec4f0f8a484b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452952&Signature=QAaO7d-f0qk35llkDmcSvVi5o~wvmrW~jDpqeq6EFotTU-c~0PKoYeNhf6JMqPjk3dmOjM-lUuJg7GoeXmDPcI7yOER~C0jt35KNMp2Wbd8~s4TIZjeZKN5vRhQHhH12TfZz7ZIxhZbhzBtS32Tvanh3Eb6KXCYtq9fVcPVAJEiae~Jb3FZWqs660ply6lHl7ke8dN7ytmIMnNXu-CZZ~Nb8uycnTaSMlfnqwmxqnYZwzKB2HE5apk7IOLyOhS0Pj6L5civKm29citZHaWzZuMYOIjJqPPo9ULEh7X3jFebXFfTuRlgNpqWXTcmwhU0dCf1zOKlle8IrtbPJXFTQ3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff told the Berwick Area School District board they had obtained preliminary quotes last year for tennis courts and a track and recommended beginning the architect selection process so plans will be ready if the district applies for a USTA grant.

The superintendent said prior quotes for resurfacing or rebuilding tennis courts ranged roughly from $275,000 to $350,000 (figures discussed in the meeting were approximate) and that a USTA grant, if awarded, could provide up to $200,000 toward a tennis-court project. Staff explained the grant application requires prepared drawings and asked the board if it wanted to begin soliciting architects with experience in athletic facilities.

Board members discussed site suitability, subgrade testing and construction costs. A board member said the existing site might not have optimal ground conditions and recommended soil testing before committing funds so the district does not have to rebuild the base within a few years.

The superintendent said he would reach out to multiple firms and bring quotes for architect services to the board for review. The board did not approve any construction work at Tuesday’s meeting; staff said preparations for a grant application and architect selection would proceed if the board agreed to solicit proposals.","District staff outlined estimated costs for tennis courts and a track, said the United States Tennis Association grant could provide up to $200,000, and recommended hiring architects to prepare plans needed for grant applications and construction estimates.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6541763,"Parents and board members press district on bullying, vo-tech perceptions and student departures",1649,249000,1898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b&start=249&end=1898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b/thumbnail_249000.jpg","/articles/6541763/Pennsylvania/Parents-and-board-members-press-district-on-bullying-vo-tech-perceptions-and-student-departures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541763-fecaf81792c1bbe5a5a9731a4af8608b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452952&Signature=NqZfLEyUileg38Gq5eWP69KT0F-~TESAhfyZ6mc1hkJVpyWzmYrDPKoo0rZdSsvKI0v6pBka1Ckipmgi-4mskkGV029gG-Q2UyYNNiRrMCX16ut14dI4h75B2-hAT6MaF0CeZwn~jnmsfV4jCiaH-J0WbMsAAb-r5ihKirz-MgGiPcnaXu4cweNyLBPVnonMvaPOvczsKaw5Xd58gAZK~ATj9caqaBYRiTSLUk8oCCmH7MEZLRC17tVAqAQUoLuMvYiW0ogsDZuv1xWO~IyP5SOX2DVqnh4CWM2IpVFPihVNig7HmXo3TLxcXRuzSQtjFe~geOrcVE3E2X6s30NGlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several board members and members of the public told the Berwick Area School District board on Tuesday that bullying and the district’s relationship with career-technical education deserve closer attention.

A board member reported on a recent Joint Operating Committee (JOC) meeting and said some attendees characterized vocational-technical education as a “last resort” and suggested that students sometimes go to tech programs because they left the district or had negative experiences. The board member urged the district to study why students feel uncomfortable and to ensure bullying complaints are properly addressed.

During public comment, Christina Culver of Salem Township said many families have told her students left the district because of bullying. Culver described receiving reports that “LGBTQ kids” were harassed, called slurs, threatened and assaulted and said board policies under consideration would further harm vulnerable students. Culver said she wants the board to seek out parents and students to understand what is happening and urged board members to stop pursuing policies that she said target vulnerable children.

A separate resident thanked a board member for remarks that cautioned against dismissing the value of vo-tech programs and urged better engagement with families.

Why it matters: bullying and perceptions of vo-tech pathways can shape student enrollment decisions and student well-being; the board said it will review the concerns and consider studying root causes and complaint processes.

Board members recommended examining program-placement reasons, investigating bullying reports, and ensuring students feel safe; the board did not take a formal vote on creating a specific study but several members urged follow up with JOC and district staff.","Board members and public speakers raised concerns about vocational-technical programs being perceived as 'last resort' placements and described bullying as a factor in students leaving the district, including testimony that LGBTQ students face harassment.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6541769,"Berwick Area SD board discusses metal detectors after executive-session security review",2014,196000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b&start=196&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5886767-a55cef49b6e9c36eec7b8b0f522cec6b/thumbnail_196000.jpg","/articles/6541769/Pennsylvania/Berwick-Area-SD-board-discusses-metal-detectors-after-executive-session-security-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541769-f484c14472f57d7be4cf72631a1ec454/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452952&Signature=gJb51XCJc8F6uDxxBcinmm~mH~Uhk3v50z~PNush~GNCj7PKhqZCluYgEzqo47iWKk6rSNODUZX210YOFg1~vF~Y2FPR-Hycg4DiX6SuS-q67f69nxQwF6SeMn47rqd~sinkMBKYioBSLrB1pPVtoV26YKCn-UoLwA5B-XzUM28DUz0QNSjZnCMsdIOYxOQGBv8VIylx1edjGkImVHqM3kqRk49B1uCcXgl23Lhvrk~Nu6SOFcO8Eq4VDIb~7H-b-JmaN8OHldA0OS0PYt2mymoQA4~yMKDhIS8jmDRqB~Il7tef7-op6yX4kM6HJyVySOWfO6Eotm0llKm10ozD-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School officials told the Berwick Area School District board they are exploring the possible purchase of metal detectors for all four district buildings and that any purchase would require a board policy to govern use.

At the meeting staff said they would obtain a quote for “open gate” metal detectors and bring details back to the board. The superintendent characterized the discussion as an informational first step and said the item would likely return on the November agenda for additional review and possible action.

A resident, Patricia Laurie of Burwick Borough, urged the board to hold a thorough public discussion of Policy 709.1 (use of metal detectors) and asked how the policy was placed on the agenda. Laurie also asked the board to make committee processes more transparent and to improve meeting accessibility for hearing-impaired attendees, saying microphones and board positioning made it difficult for some residents to hear.

The superintendent replied that the topic had been part of an executive session focused on security and that the board was bringing it to the public meeting for awareness; staff emphasized there was no vote at Tuesday’s meeting and that a formal policy discussion would return to the board later if the district decides to proceed.

Why it matters: metal detectors and school security policies touch on student privacy, civil liberties and safety procedures; the board will need to adopt clear rules governing where and how any equipment would be used.

Board members said they would review a draft policy and, if acceptable, place it on a future meeting agenda for first reading and potential vote.","Board members reviewed a draft approach to purchasing metal detectors and said a policy will be needed if the district proceeds; a resident asked for more public process and better meeting accessibility during public comment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Berwick Area SD board hears budget update, cafeteria fund spend-down plan discussed

Board reviews athletic-facility options; staff to pursue architects and USTA grant if board agrees

Parents and board members press district on bullying, vo-tech perceptions and student departures

Berwick Area SD board discusses metal detectors after executive-session security review