J-M board: State budget increase too minimal
Jefferson-Morgan officials expressed disappointment at the minimal funding increases in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s preliminary education budget during Monday’s monthly board meeting.
Shapiro announced the budget, which includes a 0.92% increase of $75 million in basic education funding, during an address on Feb. 4. The budget also asks for an additional $526 million through the need-based adequacy formula.
Jefferson-Morgan would receive $6,188,841 in Basic Education Funding subsidies under the February proposal, up 0.38% from this month’s preliminary 2024-25 numbers.
Shapiro’s budget includes a flat $8,000 cap on the amount districts have to pay in tuition rates for students to attend cyber schools. The state estimated the cap would save districts $378 million a year.
The budget also states the district should anticipate $150,000 for cyber charter costs.
“I’m making the assumption that’s going to go through,” said Business Manager Jennifer Foringer said. “Without that money it’s really, really going to be hard without making some cuts in the budget that I’m going to start working on.”
The percentage increase was tied for the second-smallest among districts in Fayette, Greene and Washington, trailing only the 0.31% rise at Uniontown Area School District in Fayette County. Peters Township School District in Washington County saw the highest increase at 1.21%, making it one of only four districts in the three-county area where the rate topped 1%.
“It’s very sad to think that very few school districts get even a 1% increase,” said board member Mark Pochron. “I’ve been sitting in this seat for a long time, and I can’t imagine thinking that our costs actually go up by 1% or less per year. It’s ridiculous. It’s really disappointing.”
Also during Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Brandon Robinson said he is also pursuing a $300,000 Distance Learning Technology grant that will provide for smart boards and teacher lab costs while also expanding live cyber course offerings at the district. He said he has gotten support from Waynesburg University and the Community College of Beaver County, among other institutions. The results of the grant application should come in over the summer, Robinson said.
Robinson said he is also applying for multiple grants to support a potential Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program at the Greene County Career and Technology Center. It would most likely start in the 2026-27 school year, Robinson said.
In other action, the board:
approved entering into a three-year contract with the two-way communication system Parentsquare, which will serve as the official communication system for the district. The cost of $3,523.55 per year will be funded through the district’s Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Mental Health and School Safety Grant starting in the 2025-26 school year.
Approved the school calendar for the 2025-26 school year. The first day of school will be Aug. 21.