Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman’s request for new staff in the 2017-18 budget is notably minimal with only three professional positions considered necessary and no support staff.

He would like to add one technology integration specialist to serve both Orefield and Springhouse middle schools.

“This is for the one-to-one initiative,” Troutman said.

He noted the district wants technology tools in the hands of every student.

The integration specialist would work with teachers to assure successful use of technology components in the classroom.

At the high school, Troutman said an additional biology teacher is needed for two more courses in the biomedical program.

“This is a program-driven need,” Troutman said. “We had 220 requests for the biomedical program this year. We have an increase in student participation.”

The superintendent stated an additional special education teacher is needed due to caseload requirements which are mandated by the state.

Troutman asked to have funding for two elementary teachers in the budget. The positions would be used only if needed to maintain class size guidelines.

In a budget update, Business Manager John Vignone reported the largest increase in the personnel section of the 2017-18 budget is payments to the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement Fund, known as PSERs.

The district has to pay $25 million to the fund but receives 50 percent back as partial reimbursement from the state.

The $172.7 million budget as of March 21 indicated expenditures exceed revenues by $6.4 million.

At the annual budget seminar on April 28, the administration and board reviewed the financial plan and look for ways to eliminate the deficit.

“We’ll see where we are over the next couple of weeks,” Vignone said.

He explained perhaps increased revenues can be found or expenditures decreased and maybe the commonwealth will provide assistance.

Lastly, he noted the district may decide to use money from the fund balance once again.

For 2016-17, $6 million was appropriated from the fund balance to equalize revenues and expenditures.

The mill rate will go no higher than 15.22, an increase of .37 mill over the present rate of 14.85.

The impact would be a $37 increase on every $100,000 of assessed property value for district residents.

The exact mill rate of taxation will be determined later.