A board member introduced and the Northwestern Lehigh School District board approved a resolution directing the district to withhold 29% of pass-through state revenue to charter schools beginning with the October payment.

The resolution, circulated at the meeting and modeled on a similar Bethlehem-area measure, states that the district’s annual state revenue share equals 29% and directs withholding of that portion of charter payments until state budgeting issues are resolved. A board presenter said the resolution would also be sent to the charter schools, the state legislature and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to “encourage them to pass a budget on in time.”

Why it matters: the pass-through payments represent a significant portion of district state revenue, and the resolution is a formal attempt to pressure state budget action by withholding funds that normally flow to charter schools.

Board discussion and action: the presenter asked the board to review the resolution and requested an immediate vote. After asking for comments and hearing none, the chair called for the question. The board voice-voted in favor; the chair declared the resolution approved.

Scope and limitations: the resolution text circulated at the meeting frames withholding as applying to charter payments at 29% starting with the October payment; the meeting record does not specify further administrative steps, timelines for release of withheld funds, or whether affected charter schools were given notice in advance. The transcript does not record a roll-call count or individual member votes.

Next steps: the presenter said the resolution would be forwarded to charter schools, the state assembly and the Department of Education. The board did not provide additional procedural detail at the meeting about how withheld funds would be administered if the state later acts.