The meeting’s primary focus was on the looming budget deficit, estimated at $26 million. Rising healthcare costs were identified as a factor impacting the budget. The superintendent explained that while higher interest rates had temporarily supported revenue, the district faced continuous challenges due to labor and healthcare expenses. Contributions from Princeton University had helped mitigate some financial stress; however, the superintendent warned of an impending financial “cliff” without extraordinary fiscal interventions.

The board discussed the potential for raising taxes as a strategy to bridge the budget gap. The possibility of a 2% tax increase was considered, with the option to present the budget to voters for approval, similar to a referendum process that other districts had pursued. The board emphasized the importance of managing fund balances carefully to avoid state intervention, noting that the state’s conservative accounting practices require careful financial oversight.

The complexities of healthcare costs were further explored, with concerns raised about negotiating power with insurance providers. The superintendent acknowledged the difficulty of altering benefits due to the strong ties to union agreements and the perceived value of these benefits to employees. There was discussion on establishing a tiered system to distribute costs more equitably among staff, although no definitive action was taken.

During the meeting, several incidents of ethics violations by board members were discussed. One member faced censure for attempting to leverage her position for personal gain, compromising the board’s integrity. Another member, who had volunteered as a football coach prior to board appointment, faced scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest but was not penalized after deciding to cease volunteering.

A separate incident involved a board member delivering a letter from an employee under disciplinary review to other board members, excluding the superintendent. This action was viewed as an attempt to influence the board’s decision-making process, resulting in a 60-day suspension for the member involved. The board reiterated the importance of maintaining ethical conduct and avoiding actions that could be perceived as self-serving or compromising the board’s integrity.

The meeting also addressed the misuse of board authority, with a specific case highlighted where a board member attempted to intimidate a principal regarding a community member’s participation in board meetings. This behavior was deemed unacceptable, resulting in censure for the board member involved.

In addition to these ethical concerns, the board discussed the impact of rising charter school costs on the district’s budget. Recent state aid amounting to approximately $600,000 was directed towards charter school tuition, which has become a budgetary burden. The district noted a projected increase in charter school costs to nearly $8 million by fiscal year 2025, a rise attributed to the state’s implementation of a previously unfunded aid formula.

The discussion extended to the challenges of calculating tuition for Cranberry students, with declining enrollment at the high school level leading to reduced tuition revenue. Special education funding also emerged as a contentious issue, with the unpredictability of costs posing challenges for budget management. The board expressed concerns over out-of-district placements and the inherent volatility of special education expenses.

The zero-based budgeting approach was discussed, emphasizing the need to review every dollar spent, although it was acknowledged that this process does not always occur in practice.

Collaborative efforts with neighboring Montgomery for shared services in transportation and maintenance were reported to be successful, addressing past issues with bus repairs and inspections. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the district’s self-insured prescription plan, which is trending at a 25% increase.