Whitehall-Coplay School Board held its first committee meeting of the year Jan. 12. The meeting began with the 2026-27 school year budget overview and resolution to stay below the Act I Index.

Act I is a Pennsylvania law passed in 2006 that limits how much school districts can raise property taxes each year. The limit, called the Act I Index, is set by the state and is based on economic factors like wage and employment cost growth. If a district wants to raise taxes above that limit, it generally must get voter approval, unless it qualifies for certain exceptions, such as special education costs.

However, for the 2026-27 school year, school districts that receive additional state adequacy funding are not allowed to use the special education exception and must either stay within the limit or ask voters to approve a higher tax increase.

The state set the base tax increase limit at 3.5%, but after adjustments, the school district’s allowed tax increase for the 2026-27 school year is 4.7%.

The WCSD administration is recommending the school board not raise taxes above the adjusted Act I limit. Administrators are recommending that, at the Jan. 26 board meeting, the board formally approve a resolution confirming property taxes will not increase beyond the adjusted Act I Index of 4.7% for the 2026-27 budget year.

The meeting continued with a presentation by a representative of CHA Solutions, who provided an update on the Whitehall Township Public Library construction project.

The district is involved in the project because it owns the building; however, the district is not covering the cost. The library will reimburse the district for all work completed.

The library is utilizing grant funding to upgrade the facility, including improvements to Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, such as restrooms, window replacements and other enhancements.

Following the presentation, the board moved on to discuss Policy 122.1, noting any student group interested in using district space as a public forum to meet would have to abide by the guidelines in the policy. This just ensures there is a proper process put in place if the time comes.

Other policies within the school have been adjusted. The full list can be found on the Whitehall-Coplay Board Docs page.

Whitehall High School Principal Dr. Peter Mayes spoke to the board about the high school’s next EF Tour trip, which is scheduled for 2027. The group will travel to Italy, he said, noting there are currently 30 students interested in participating.

Looking ahead to summer 2028, Mayes shared the school is proposing a trip to South America, with plans to visit the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. Proposed activities include visiting Isabela Island, exploring a tortoise ranch, snorkeling, hiking and other educational experiences. The estimated cost of the trip is $4,900, with payment plans available that allow families to spread the cost over 30 months. Mayes also noted discussions are underway regarding potential scholarship opportunities for students interested in participating.

For 2029, Mayes proposed a trip to Japan, with the travel cycle repeating in future years for upcoming classes.