KENWOOD — Penns Manor Area School Board approved its final budget for the 2024-2025 school year and begin to complete preparations for next year.
After months of changes since it was first unveiled in March, the district will face a $423,625 deficit, this time inflating due to a steep increase in medical insurance costs and a slight increase in cafeteria service costs.
This deficit will still be covered with a transfer from the general fund balance and will not result in a tax increase this year, as previously stated by Penns Manor Area Superintendent Daren K. Johnston.
The board unanimously voted Wednesday, at its monthly business meeting, to approve the budget.
Additionally, the district decided to opt-in to the Community Eligibility Provision program beginning next school year.
This program will provide no-cost meals to students in need without requiring student or household applications. Students will still have to pay for a la cart options or a second meal.
The district will review every May whether to continue the program and will still require families to use the free or reduced school lunch applications for data purposes to continue the program.
Additionally, any student with an negative lunch balance that is eligible for the program must have paid the amount owed before receiving its benefits.
More information will be released to parents during the summer, according to Johnston.
Finally, Alex Polenik was recognized by the board for being the first Penns Manor Area student to receive a gold medal in the PIAA Track and Field Championship in discus.
Moreover, Johnston commended Polenik on both his athletic ability and academic achievement.
“Alex is the perfect description of a student athlete,” Johnston said. “What I mean by that is ‘student’ … Alex, for example, his lowest final grade for the year was a 99 percent.”
He was described as humble, hard-working and persistent by the superintendent, to the agreement of all board members, including his father, Richard Polenik.
Meeting attendees were treated to cake in celebration of his achievements.
Other topics discussed included appointing Dr. Adam Tomayko and Dr. Amanda Vagila as school dentist and doctor, respectively, and hiring Allison Howells as a new elementary school teacher.
The Penns Manor Area School Board will next meet at 7 p.m. July 3, for its committee meeting and 7 p.m. July 10 for its next business meeting.
